Children at 7 years-old who have a high nutrient-rich dietary pattern, such as processed meat, sugary drinks and no vegetable soup, are at greater risk of having metabolic changes at age 10. These are the results of an investigation of the Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP), which was published in the journal “Clinical Nutrition”.
The study was designed to “understand the effect of whole diet (dietary pattern) on future levels of cardiometabolic parameters. We know that diet influences metabolic markers, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but we didn´t know to what extent this relationship was established at early ages”, explains Andreia Pinto, the first author of the study, coordinated by Andreia Oliveira.
The study used data from 3,350 children belonging to the longitudinal study Generation XXI, which since 2005 has followed 8600 participants who were born in the public maternity hospitals of the Metropolitan Area of Porto.
The researchers analyzed the eating patterns of children at 7 years-old and their metabolic indicators at age 10.
Children who consumed high-energy foods and less vegetable soup had an altered cardiometabolic pattern at the age of 10, namely higher levels of triglycerides and a lower concentration of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). We also found that those who had this eating pattern had greater insulin resistance and higher levels of diastolic blood pressure, regardless of their weight at 10 years-old.
For Andreia Pinto, these results are especially useful for educators and parents. They should be aware “of the importance of putting rules in the feeding of children, since the eating habits that they adopt early will influence their health later on. Adopting a healthy eating pattern is therefore very relevant”.
It should be emphasized that metabolic changes at early ages can lead to future development of established disease, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.
The study, developed within the Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit) of ISPUP, is entitled Dietary patterns at 7 year-old and their association with cardiometabolic health at 10 year-old. The researchers Ana Cristina Santos and Carla Lopes also participate in the article.
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