Cardiovascular disease is one of the biggest causes of death. The disease is usually detected when a person growing up.
However, recent research by experts from St. Michael's Hospital Toronto, Canada, indicated that the risk of suffering from heart disease may be detected early. Research shows that what is consumed by children at age 3 years to determine their risk of having heart disease later in life.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated, the effects of a poor diet can be directly seen since childhood. It appears from the increase in cholesterol levels-as a marker of heart disease risk in children aged 3 to 5 years.
In the study, researchers analyzed data on 1,076 preschoolers. Several factors such as age, gender, birth weight, gestational diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and ethnicity accounted parents. Researchers wanted to know whether there is a relationship between diet and serum cholesterol levels of non-HDL (non-high-density lipoprotein) which is a marker of heart disease risk.
Research shows that eating children is associated with increased non-HDL cholesterol levels. This indicates that the intervention for the prevention of heart disease should have been done at an earlier age.
"Our results suggest that the relationship between diet and cardiovascular risk appears early in life, and can be a potential target for early intervention. Diets as reported by parents was positively related to non-HDL cholesterol levels in children aged 3-5 year, "said the researcher, Dr. Navindra Persaud.
According to him, the results of this study support the reason for the importance of interventions aimed at improving diet in preschool children.