Effect of quantitative and qualitative diet prescription on children behavior after diagnosis of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: Diet and healthy modifications in lifestyle represent the first therapeutic approach for early intervention in hypercholesterolemia. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a qualitative dietetic program rather than a quantitative one on metabolic parameters and anxiety level of children affected by heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia [heFH] and their mothers. METHODS: In a sample of 42 heFH normal weight children (11.4 ± 2.9 years old), we investigated the factors which were associated with children perceived quality of life and with their mothers' anxiety levels after qualitative dietary changes rather than after quantitative ones. RESULTS: The administered diets had similar metabolic effects. However, higher Child Behavior Checklist (Behavior Problems subscale) [CBCL] scores were significantly associated with the permanence in quantitative diet, as well as children's higher age, higher Children's Depression Inventory 2 [CDI2] and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children [STAI-CH] score, and with mothers' anxiety at the baseline. CONCLUSION: In heFH children, an intervention in the diet to improve food choice seems to be associated with a more healthy children behavior rather than a quantitative diet.