[Selected dietary atherosclerosis risk factors in offspring of patients with premature ischemic stroke].

Unlabelled: There are currently multiple reports which conclude that there is a correlation between cardiovascular risk factors, including wrong dietary habits, and occurrence of these factors in families.
Aim of the Study: To evaluate daily intake of selected dietary items, which have influence on premature development of atherosclerosis, in adult offspring of patients who underwent premature ischemic stroke.
Material and Methods: 54 patients were included in the study: 21 males, aged 21-38 years (average 25.8 yrs.) and 33 women aged 19-39 years (average 28.2 yrs.). All of them were examined including medical history, physical examination and fasting blood draw. Dietary habits were evaluated with the method of 24-hour history using a questionnaire developed by Institute of Food and Diet in Warsaw, Poland (Instytut Zywnosci i Zywienia). Intake of selected dietary components (dietary cholesterol, fiber, vitamins E, C, B6, B12 and folic acid) was assessed using a computer program "Dietician 2" ("Dietetyk 2") which had been developed by the Institute of Food and Diet.
Results: In males, compared to females, there was a significantly higher (p < 0.05) level of daily calorie intake (2400.8 +/- 716.2 vs 1583.1 +/- 584.3 kcal) as well as intake (expressed in percentage of daily allowance) of dietary cholesterol (106.8 +/- 46.2 vs 62.9 +/- 42.8), fiber (70.6 +/- 28.2 vs 52.0 +/- 22.2), vitamin E (98.4 +/- 49.8 vs 63.5 +/- 33.9), folate (53.9 +/- 23.1 vs 37.8 +/- 16.4) and vitamin B12 (99.0 +/- 58.3 vs 57.2 +/- 44.5). There were also significantly higher levels of the following parameters in 22 normal-weight females compared to 11 overweight/obese females: daily calorie intake (1735.2 +/- 613.2 vs 1278.9 +/- 387.7 kcal) as well as intake (expressed in percentage of daily allowance) of dietary cholesterol (73.9 +/- 44.8 vs 40.9 +/- 29.2), folate (42.3 +/- 17.0 vs 28.7 +/- 10.9) and vitamin B12 (68.2 +/- 48.0 vs 35.1 +/- 26.4).
Conclusions: The examined offspring (especially daughters) of a parent with premature ischemic stroke ate insufficient, unbalanced and monotonous diet, which impaired their nutrition. This should motivate family physicians to put greater interest in primary prevention in this group of patients. Overweight and obese women were put at even greater risk because such diet was added to other atherosclerosis risk factors, i.e. family history of premature ischemic stroke and increased body mass.