Resumen

ARAUZ-HERNANDEZ, Ana Gladys et al. Proteína de soya: alternativa no farmacológica para el tratamiento de niños con hipercolesterolemia. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2004, vol.46, n.1, pp.27-33. ISSN 0001-6002.

Primary hypercholesterolemia treatment (PHT) is based on a reduced diet in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can diminish between 10 and 20% of serum cholesterol (CT). Soybean protein has the potential to reduce CT, when it substitutes partial or totally animal protein. The present study shows the results of the effect of a low saturated fat, cholesterol and soybean protein diet on LDL-C in Costa Rican children with primary hypercholesterolemia. Twenty children, between the ages of 7 and 14, were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary treatments at home. The experimental group received: Stage 1 NCEP diet, it consisted of 25 more grams of soybean protein and the control group received: Stage 1 NCEP diet without soybean protein. After a homogenization period of ten days, the intervention began for eight weeks. Both groups reduced their total cholesterol and their LDL-C (p< 0,05). However, the experimental group showed a greater reduction of their LDL-C (10,5 % vs. 3,9 %1), than the control, but tbis difference was not significant. Those who consumed more than 20 grams of soybean protein had a bigger reduction of their LDL-C and a smaller negative effect of their HDL-C. Soy protein diet did not have significant effect on LDL-C reduction, We can not conclude that there is an advantage of using soy protein over traditional treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.

Palabras clave : niños con hipercolesterolemia; proteína de soya; dieta; LDL-C.