EFFECT OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DIET PRESCRIPTION ON CHILDREN BEHAVIOUR AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF FAMILIAL DYSLIPIDEMIA

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a quantitative and a qualitative dietary program on metabolic parameters and anxiety level affected by familial dyslipidemia. Design and method: We enrolled 42 patients (13.4 ± 2.9 year old), firstly diagnosed for familial dyslipidemia. We investigated the factors associated to worsening in children perceived quality of life after quantitative or qualitative dietary changes. Results: The effects of the two diets was similar in term of cholesterolemia reduction. Adjusting data for age and sex of the child and mother's age and education level, higher Child Behavior Checklist (Behavior Problems subscale) (CBCL) scores were significantly associated to the permanence in quantitative diet, higher age of the children, higher Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) score, and to mother anxiety at the baseline (P < 0.05 always). Conclusions: In children with familial hyperlipidaemia a dietary program based on quality of food choice is associated to a more healthy children behavior than a quantitative one. A qualitative diet approach could warrant a longer and better compliance to the dietary suggestion.