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Interventions and public health nutrition

Longitudinal effect of 20-year infancy-onset dietary intervention on food consumption and nutrient intake: the randomized controlled STRIP study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 937–949 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Coronary heart disease begins in childhood and warrants prevention strategies such as dietary modification. The objective was to determine the effect of the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) dietary intervention on food consumption and nutrient intake over 20-year intervention period.

Subjects/Methods

The STRIP is a prospective, randomized trial conducted between 1990 and 2011. Enrolled 6-month-old infants (n = 1062) were randomized to an intervention group (n = 540) receiving dietary counseling biannually from age 7 months to 20 years or control group (n = 522) not receiving any intervention. Food and nutrient intake was assessed annually using 4-day food records. A food-based diet score was calculated.

Results

The intervention led to (1) higher consumption of low-fat unsweetened dairy (β = 177.76, 95% CI 157.36–198.16 g/day), vegetable-oil based fats (β = 6.00, 5.37–6.63 g/day), fish (β = 2.45, 1.44–3.45 g/day), fiber-rich grain products (β = 5.53, 3.17–7.89 g/day), fruits/berries (β = 9.93, 4.44–15.43 g/day), vegetables (β = 11.95, 7.74–16.16 g/day); (2) lower consumption of desserts (β = − 4.10, 95% CI − 6.50 to − 1.70 g/day); (3) lower intake of sucrose (β = − 1.61, 95% CI − 2.88 to − 0.35 g/day), and higher intake of fiber (β = 0.83, 0.55–1.11 g/day), folate (β = 11.14, 95% CI 8.23–14.05 μg/day), vitamin D (β = 0.52, 0.39–0.64 μg/day), C (β = 8.08, 4.79–11.38 mg/day), E (β = 0.93, 0.81–1.05 mg/day), iron (β = 0.31, 0.18–0.44 mg/day), zinc (β = 0.29, 0.17–0.40 mg/day), magnesium (β = 12.17, 9.02–15.33 mg/day), sodium (β = 55.00, 24.40–85.60 mg/day), potassium (β = 157.11, 107.24–206.98 mg/day). No effect was found on nut/seed, red/processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverage, salty snack consumption, or vitamin A and calcium intake. Intervention effect was more pronounced in boys.

Conclusions

The STRIP intervention improved children’s diet quality over 20 years, indicating that beneficial dietary changes can be introduced and sustained in youth.

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Acknowledgements

Noora Kartiosuo is acknowledged for statistical expertize. Funded by the Academy of Finland (Grant No 206374, 294834, 251360, 275595), the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiac Research, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Special Governmental Grants for Health Sciences Research (Turku University Hospital), the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, and the Turku University Foundation. The funders have no role in collecting or analyzing of the data or drafting the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov Unique identifier: NCT00223600

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Laurie A. Matthews, Suvi P. Rovio, Johanna M Jaakkola, Olli Simell, Olli T. Raitakari & Katja Pahkala

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Harri Niinikoski

  3. Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Hanna Lagström

  4. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland

    Antti Jula

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Jorma S. A. Viikari & Tapani Rönnemaa

  6. Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Olli T. Raitakari

  7. Paavo Nurmi Centre, Sports & Exercise Medicine Unit, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Katja Pahkala

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Matthews, L.A., Rovio, S.P., Jaakkola, J.M. et al. Longitudinal effect of 20-year infancy-onset dietary intervention on food consumption and nutrient intake: the randomized controlled STRIP study. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 937–949 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0350-4

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