Diabetes, Vol 24, Issue 7 672-679, Copyright © 1975 by American Diabetes Association
Plasma lipid levels in diabetic children. Effect of diet restricted in cholesterol and saturated fats
RL Kaufmann, JPh Assal, JS Soeldner, EG Wilmshurst, JR Lemaire, RE Gleason and P White
Plasma lipids, blood glucose, and urinary glucose excretion were measured
in 270 juvenile diabetic children upon admission to and throughout periods
of summer camping during which the effect of a usual and a modified
diabetic diet was assessed. The usual diabetic diet contained 700-1,500 mg.
cholesterol daily with a polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) ratio of 0.1,
while the modified diet limited cholesterol to 300 mg. daily with a P/S
ratio of 1.0. Both diets maintained calories with 40 per cent as fat, 40
per cent as carbohydrate, and 20 per cent as protein. Analysis of fasting
blood glucose, qualitative and quantitative glucose excretion, and body
weight indicated that groups were comparable except for the diet used.
Elevated mean levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were approximately
equally distributed in diabetic children of both sexes upon admission to
camp, with 24 per cent demonstrating hyperlipoproteinemia. Eleven per cent
had type II, 10 per cent type IV, and 3 per cent type V
hyperlipoproteinemia upon admission. After following the usual diet, 21 per
cent were type II, 1 per cent type IV, and none type V, with no reduction
in the over-all incidence of hyperlipoproteinemia despite lower
triglyceride and glucose levels. After consumption of the modified diet,
hyperlipoproteinemia was reduced to 5 per cent, with 4 per cent type II and
1 per cent type IV. Results of this study indicated that plasma lipids in
juvenile diabetics were elevated when first observed and that the control
of blood sugar levels along with a diabetic diet with lower cholesterol and
increased polyunsaturated fat significantly reduced the incidence of
hyperlipoproteinemia more effectively than control of blood sugar levels
alone.