1. Denke, M., Adams-Huet, B., Nguyen, A. Individual Cholesterol Variation in Response to a Margarine- or Butter-Based Diet. Journal of the American Medical Association. December 6, 2000. Vol. 284. No. 2. 2740-2747.

This recent study confirmed that simple dietary substitutions make a difference in lowering cholesterol levels, not only in adults but also in children. The study, compared the dietary responsiveness of entire families to a margarine (unsaturated fat) and butter (saturated fat) based diet. This groundbreaking research revealed that the entire family can benefit from a heart-healthy diet, as cholesterol levels were dramatically lowered in adults and children when they switched from butter to margarine. Compared to butter, the margarine based diet lowered levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol by an average of 11 percent in adults and 9 percent in children. In fact, the results show that making the switch from butter to margarine can be as effective as cholesterol-lowering medication for some individuals. Total cholesterol was lowered as well and HDL (good) cholesterol was not affected.

2. Sanchez, A., Barth, J., Zhang, L. Diet and its Relation to Early Atherosclerosis in Teenagers. (Abstract) Supplement to Journal of the American College of Cardiology. February 2000. Vol. 35. Issue 2, Suppl. A. 48.

This study revealed that most adolescents (over 80 percent) between the ages of 13 and 18 exceeded dietary recommendations for total fat and saturated fat intake. Forty-nine percent exceeded the recommended cholesterol intake. More than one-third (37 percent) had elevated total cholesterol levels and 29 percent had elevated LDL cholesterol levels. A major finding was that those with high cholesterol intake were more likely to show early signs of atherosclerosis in their arteries. The authors concluded, "These data support the assumption that diet is important in the etiology of atherosclerosis in its beginning stages in teenagers, as it is with atherosclerosis in the adult."

3. Freedman, D., Dietz, W., Sathanur, R., Berenson, G. The Relation of Overweight Children and Adolescents: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics. June 6, 1999. Vol. 103. No. 6. 1175-1181.

The Bogalusa heart study reinforces the importance of a healthy weight in relation to heart disease risk. The results indicated that children aged 5 to 17 who were overweight were 2.4 times more likely to have elevated cholesterol levels. Of those children who were overweight (a total of 813), more than half (58 percent) had at least one risk factor for heart disease. According to government statistics, approximately 25 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight, which may place an alarming number of children and adolescents at an increased risk for heart disease.

4. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Cholesterol Education Program, May 2001.

"Everyone older than age 2 should care about cholesterol to reduce the risk of developing heart disease as an adult. Children as well as adults can improve the health of their hearts by following a low-saturated-fat and low-cholesterol diet, avoiding obesity, and being physically active."