Dietary Fats Do Not Promote Hyperlipidemia In Young Diabetics

Lipid abnormalities remain common in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes even though they adhere to current dietary recommendations.

These abnormalities relate to metabolic control, not to dietary intake, according to specialists in diabetes and child health in North Adelaide, Australia.

The specialists determined the relative influence of diet, metabolic control, and familial factors on lipids in 79 children and young people with type 1 diabetes and in 61 age-matched and sex-matched controls.

They assessed fasting serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein-A1 and apolipoprotein-B. They also used a quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intakes.

Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein-B, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-A1 were all significantly higher in children with diabetes.

These children had significantly higher percentage energy intake from complex carbohydrates and fibre intake than controls. They also had markedly lower intake of refined sugar and percentage energy from saturated fat.

Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein -B correlated independently with HbA(1c) but not with dietary intake.

High density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein-A1 correlated independently with HbA(1c). High density lipoprotein cholesterol correlated with percentage energy intake from complex carbohydrates.

Triglycerides correlated independently with percentage energy intake from complex carbohydrates and insulin dose.

Children and adolescents with diabetes and low density lipoprotein exceeding 3.35 mmol/L, (130 mg/dL), for whom dietary therapy would be recommended, had significantly higher HbA(1c) but higher intake of complex carbohydrates than those with low density lipoprotein cholesterol below that level. Diabetes Care 2003;26:5:1356-1361

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