Cholesterol levels improve in kids as trans-fats in snacks slide
The cholesterol levels in U.S. children has improved in the past two decades as makers of crackers, cookies, crackers and other snacks responded to public concern that trans-fats used in the products may be harmful to health.
The presence of elevated total cholesterol dropped to 8.1% for children from 6 to 19 in 2007 to 2010 compared with 11% from 1988 to 1994, according to a study today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. While no cause analysis was conducted, lower fat intake and more exercise may have contributed to the improvement, states Brian Kit, a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the study’s lead author.