Dietary cholesterol does not increase biomarkers for chronic disease in a pediatric population from northern Mexico

Background: An increased incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is prevalent in northern Mexico. Effects of specific dietary components on risk factors for CAD have not been evaluated in children. Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the effects of dietary cholesterol provided by whole eggs on the lipoprotein profile, LDL size, and phenotype in children from this region. Design: Children (29 girls and 25 boys aged 8 –12 y) were randomly assigned to either 2 eggs/d (EGG period; 518 additional mg cholesterol) or the equivalent amount of egg whites (SUB period; 0 additional mg cholesterol) for 30 d. After a 3-wk washout period, the children were assigned to the alternate treatment. Results: Subjects were classified as hyporesponders (no increase or 0.05 mmol/L increase in plasma cholesterol for 100 mg additional cholesterol) or hyperresponders (0.06 mmol/L increase). During the EGG period, the hyperresponders (n 18) had an elevation in both LDL cholesterol (from 1.54 0.38 to 1.93 0.36 mmol/L) and HDL cholesterol (from 1.23 0.26 to 1.35 0.29 mmol/L) with no changes in LDL:HDL. In contrast, hyporesponders (n 36) had no significant alterations in plasma LDL or HDL cholesterol. All subjects had an increase in LDL peak diameter during the EGG period (P 0.01) and a decrease (P 0.01) in the smaller LDL subfractions. In addition, 5 of the children having LDL phenotype B (15%) shifted from this high-risk pattern to pattern A after the EGG treatment. Conclusions: Intake of 2 eggs/d results in the maintenance of LDL: HDL and in the generation of a less atherogenic LDL in this population of Mexican children. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:855– 61.