Feeding children diets high in calories, fat and sugar could damage their blood vessels by the time they are teenagers, experts say.
A new study funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that youngsters who had a higher calorie intake, plus more sugar and fat, had stiffer arteries when they were 17 than those whose diets were healthier.
Furthermore, children who ate a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruit, beans and pulses, fish and less meat had less stiff arteries aged 17.
Arteries are key blood vessels which bring oxygen-rich blood from the heart to cells in the body.
Stiffness in the arteries is an important early marker of damage and is caused by a loss of elastic fibres and stiffer collagen fibres in the vessels, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks.
The new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, examined data for over 4,700 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
Experts looked at children’s diets from the age of seven and then measured pulse wave velocity – a marker of arterial stiffness – and carotid intima-media thickness in the arteries when they reached age 17.
The results showed that children with diets high in calories, fat and sugar and low in fibre at ages seven and 10, had stiffer arteries aged 17 compared to children who had eaten less calorific, fatty and sugary foods in childhood.
When looking at Mediterranean-style diets, experts also found that children who ate more foods like fish, vegetables, fruit and beans had reduced arterial stiffness at 17.
Consuming anti-inflammatory foods aged 10 (such vegetables and fruit, particularly berries, and a variety of brightly coloured vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds, spices and seafood) also led to less artery stiffness.
The experts said every child’s calorie requirement is different and depends on their age, size and how much exercise they do.
But Dr Genevieve Buckland, BHF research fellow at Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, who led the research, told the PA news agency: “Children will be more likely to get all the nutrients they need and not consume excessive calories if they eat lots of fruit and vegetables, plus high fibre starchy foods like wholegrain bread, and brown pasta and rice, along with lean protein.
“UK dietary guidelines also recommend avoiding high fat and sugary processed foods as much as possible, because they are often calorie-dense and nutrient-poor.”
She added: “Our research highlights the importance of developing well-balanced eating habits from childhood to reduce the risk of future heart problems.”
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the BHF, said: “Cardiovascular disease is the UK’s major cause of disability and premature death and can hit those living in the least well-off areas hardest.
“The results of this study suggest that, to stop heart disease in its tracks, improving people’s diets has to start early and be lifelong.
“A bold and comprehensive approach from Government is needed to ensure the healthy option is the easy option for everyone.
“This includes pushing ahead with delayed laws to curb junk food marketing, and driving industry to reduce the salt and sugar levels in our everyday foods.
“Only then will we give children the opportunity to live a long and healthy life, no matter where they live.”
It comes as a separate study in the journal Atherosclerosis noted that high cholesterol levels in adolescence can cause structural and functional damage leading to premature heart damage and death.
The study, from the University of Exeter, University of Bristol and the University of Eastern Finland, suggested earlier checks for children could prevent future heart problems.
The research found elevated cholesterol and dyslipidaemia (an imbalance of lipids in the blood, including cholesterol) in children and adolescents increased the risk of premature death by the mid-40s and other heart issues in the mid-20s.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel