Association between food consumption and high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol among obese children.

Introduction: The increase in the prevalence of obesity and obesity in children is a pattern of the last decades. This public health issue results in metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia with increased LDL-C. Previous findings shows that most of the Brazilian children does not follow the recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the association of dietary intake characteristics with elevated serum cholesterol from low density lipoprotein in obese children.

Material and methods: Cross-sectional study involving 137 obese children (5-10 years). The mean age of the studied children was 8.27 years, 55.5% were male The weight measurements were performed on a digital anthropometric scale. The body mass index was calculated for each child and the Food Frequency Questionnaire was applied. The peripheral blood was collected for lipid profile analysis. Stata 12.0 statistical package was used to analyze the data, considering a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia based on the serum cholesterol from low density lipoprotein fraction was 14.6%. It was observed that children in the group who consumed the lower difference of risky and protective foods on a daily basis were not less likely to have a high cholesterol from low density lipoprotein level as a criterion for hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.218).

Conclusions: A large proportion of the individuals presented levels of lipid profile classified as undesirable for age, as well as food rich in components capable of increasing this profile, which should encourage the intensification in measures of prevention of cardiovascular diseases since childhood.