A pilot study about dietetic habits and the cholesterol in a sample of infatile population from a rural health area

Abstract

We did a pilot study in a school children sample from the rural area of Serrada (Valladolid), testing the levels of serum total cholesterol and its possible influence according with the received diet. We filled up two different form models, one recording the 24 hours data and the other with recalled data from a week.
The mean concentration of serum total cholesterol was 159.7 mg/dl, a 9 % of children showed values above 200 mg/dl. We did not find significant differences (p <0.01) between both sexes.
In relationship to total intake, the lipids were the 42 % (16 % saturated; 6 % polyunsaturated and 20 % monounsaturated), proteins 15 % and carbohydrates 43 %. The cholesterol intake in all group of ages was higher than 350 mg/day. These percentages are different of the Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis recommendations to paediatric population.