Dietary intake and lipid levels in Norwegian and Spanish children with familial hypercholesterolemia

Background and aims: Both the Nordic and Mediterranean diets claim to have a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular prevention. The objective of this study was to compare diets consumed by children with FH at the time of diagnosis in Norway and Spain and to study their relationship with the lipid profile. Methods and results: In this cross-sectional study, we appraised the dietary intake in children (4-18 years old) with (n = 114) and without FH (n = 145) from Norway and Spain. We compared Nordic and Mediterranean diet composition differences and determined the association between food groups and lipid profiles. Results: The Spanish FH group had a higher intake of total fats (mainly monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)), cholesterol and fibre, but a lower intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared to the Norwegian FH group. The Norwegian children consumed more rapeseed oil, low-fat margarine and whole grains and less olive oil, eggs, fatty fish, meat, legumes and nuts. In the Norwegian FH group, fat and MUFAs were directly correlated with total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B and inversely correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). In Spanish children with FH, the intake of fats (mainly MUFAs) was directly associated with HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1. Conclusions: Despite a similar lipid phenotype, diets consumed by children with FH in Norway and Spain have significant differences at time of diagnosis. Nutrition advice should be more adapted to local intake patterns than on specific nutrient composition. (c) 2020 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Background and aims: Both the Nordic and Mediterranean diets claim to have a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular prevention. The objective of this study was to compare diets consumed by children with FH at the time of diagnosis in Norway and Spain and to study their relationship with the lipid profile. Methods and results: In this cross-sectional study, we appraised the dietary intake in children (4 -18 years old) with (n = 114) and without FH (n = 145) from Norway and Spain. We compared Nordic and Mediterranean diet composition differences and determined the association between food groups and lipid profiles. Results: The Spanish FH group had a higher intake of total fats (mainly monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)), cholesterol and fibre, but a lower intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared to the Norwegian FH group. The Norwegian children consumed more rapeseed oil, low-fat margarine and whole grains and less olive oil, eggs, fatty fish, meat, legumes and nuts. In the Norwegian FH group, fat and MUFAs were directly correlated with total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B and inversely correlated with highdensity lipoprotein (HDL-C). In Spanish children with FH, the intake of fats (mainly MUFAs) was directly associated with HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1. Conclusions: Despite a similar lipid phenotype, diets consumed by children with FH in Norway and Spain have significant differences at time of diagnosis. Nutrition advice should be more