A retrospective study was performed on children with
hypercholesterolemia or
hypertriglyceridemia referred to the Endocrine Clinic of the Niño Jesús University Hospital over a period of 5 years. One hundred twenty-seven children, from 2 to 16 years of age, were followed. The subjects were classified into the following groups: 90 with primary
hyperlipidemia [55 polygenic
hypercholesterolemia (PH), 23
familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and 12 with
familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH)]; 2 with secondary
hypercholesterolemia and 35 were found to have normal
cholesterol and
triglyceride values. All patients with primary
hyperlipoproteinemia were instructed to carry out dietary intervention during a 6 month period, following the step I recommendations of the National
Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). The following results were obtained: In the group of children with PH and FH a decrease in total and
LDL cholesterol was observed (p < 0.0001 for both groups). In the group of FH, a decrease in the
LDL/HDL ratio was also observed (p < 0.01). In contrast, the group of children with FCH did not show any changes in the
lipoprotein pattern after dietary intervention. In the three groups studied, no statistically significant differences were observed in the remaining parameters (HDL-C, VLDL, and
apo A1) after dietary intervention. Lp(a) levels above 30 mg/dl were observed in 25%, 37% and 46% of the children with PH, FH and FCH, respectively. Nine patients with FH were treated with resins for 3 months. In these children a decrease in total and
LDL cholesterol,
apo B and in the
LDL/HDL ratio was observed (p < 0.05). No changes in Lp(a) and HDL-C were observed in this group of children. In our experience, dietary intervention to reduce fat and
cholesterol intake in children with primary
hyperlipoproteinemia, a population at high risk of developing
atherosclerosis, is safe and useful. The treatment with resins in children with FH improves their
lipoprotein profile.