Plant-Based, No-Added-Fat or American Heart Association Diets: Impacton Cardiovascular Risk in Obese Children with Hypercholesterolemia and Their Parents
Michael Macknin, Tammie Kong, Adam Weier, Sarah Worley, Anne S. Tang
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.12.058 Abstract
Objective
To perform a randomized trial to determine whether there is cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction from a plant-based (PB), no–added-fat diet and the American Heart Association (AHA) diet in children.
Study design
A 4-week (April 20, 2013 to May 18, 2013), prospective randomized trial was undertaken in a large, Midwestern hospital system's predominantly middle class outpatient pediatric practices. Thirty children (9-18years of age) parent pairs with a last recorded child body mass index >95th percentile and child cholesterol >169mg/dL were randomized to PB or AHA with weekly 2-hour classes of nutrition education.
Results
Children on PB had 9 and children on AHA had 4 statistically significant (P<.05) beneficial changes from baseline (mean decreases): body mass index z-scorePB(−0.14), systolic blood pressurePB(−6.43mm Hg), total cholesterolPB(−22.5mg/dL), low-density lipoproteinPB(−13.14mg/dL), high-sensitivity C-reactive proteinPB(−2.09mg/L), insulinPB(−5.42 uU/mL), myeloperoxidasePB/AHA(−75.34/69.23 pmol/L), mid-arm circumferencePB/AHA(−2.02/−1.55cm), weightPB/AHA(−3.05/−1.14kg), and waist circumferenceAHA(−2.96cm). s on PB and AHA had 7 and 2, respectively, statistically significant (P<.05) beneficial changes. The significant change favoring AHA was a 1% difference in children's waist circumference. Difficulty shopping for food for the PB was the only statistically significant acceptability barrier.
Conclusions
PB and the AHA in both children and s demonstrated potentially beneficial changes from baseline in risk factors for CVD. Future larger, long-term randomized trials with easily accessible PB foods will further define the role of the PB in preventing CVD.
