The impact of low-saturated fat, low cholesterol diet on bone properties measured using calcaneal ultrasound in prepubertal children.

Abstract

To analyze the effects of low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet on bone in healthy children, calcaneal ultrasound measurements were obtained in 139 subjects (71 girls, 68 boys; mean age 8 years, SD 0.5), who were recruited from the STRIP (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project) trial. Speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and quantitative ultrasound index (QUI) values were determined at the dominant heel using a Hologic Sahara scanner. Values were compared with anthropometry and mean, energy-adjusted dietary intakes (absolute intake/1000 kcal) of fat, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, calcium, fiber, and the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio derived from 4-day food diaries kept once a year between the ages of 2-7 years. The intakes were also analyzed separately at each time point. The BUA, SOS, and QUI values of the intervention children (n = 90) and the control children (n = 49) were similar. No gender differences were found. BUA correlated with age (r = 0.26, P<0.01), height (r = 0.19, P<0.05), and weight (r = 0.22, P<0.05). QUI correlated with mean intake of fat (r = 0.19, P<0.05) and carbohydrate (r = -0.22, P<0.05), SOS with mean intake of cholesterol (r = 0.18, P<0.05), and BUA with mean intake of carbohydrate (r = -0.22, P<0.05). The intakes of fat and cholesterol were lower (P<0.001) and intakes of protein and carbohydrates higher (P<0.01) in the intervention children, but the intakes of calcium were similar. The differences in the dietary intakes persisted throughout the study period. We conclude that dietary counseling aimed at reducing risk of atherosclerosis in later life does not decrease dietary intake of calcium or diminish the calcaneal ultrasound values in the intervention of children in this study. However, since this study is cross-sectional and only one measurement of bone is used, further studies are needed to draw further conclusions about the influence of dietary counseling on bone health.