3 year old with High Cholesterol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you!
I am switching to skim milk. He's been drinking 2% or 1% but not skim.

I'm guessing his main sources of protein are from tofu and chobani (greek yogurt) and small pieces of meat that I get him to eat here and there. He eats fish. He does eat a lot of carbs...

High cholesterol can also be genetic. Talk to your ped before switching to skim milk as, I have read, that young children should not have skim milk.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you everyone. My husband and I talked it over and we do think our son eats a lot of dairy and he drinks a lot of milk. We will switch to skim and cut down on some of the dairy. I will look into adding more lentils and fiber to his diet too.

It's standard practice at our ped's office to test for cholesterol at age 3. Son is not in daycare... I'm home full-time with him. His cholesterol is slightly over 200 - around 207.

[Anonymous]

I'm a registered dietitian, and I echo the sentiments of others to go see a registered dietitian (although I would recommend you see an "RD" rather than a nutritionist). Blood cholesterol is affected primarily by dietary fat, a little bit by dietary cholesterol, and not at all by salt (as some previously posters have suggested). Dietary fat is important in a 3 year old's diet. Thus, it's important you work with an RD to identify the best sources of fat in his diet to keep and those to try to limit.

I assume the blood test was done fasting? If not, then it's not valid. Also, to put it simply, cholesterol in circulation is most affected by how much cholesterol your liver makes (which is affected by genetics and fat in the diet). Some people, no matter how pristine the diet, have livers that just make a lot of cholesterol. If your son's liver is making a lot of cholesterol, dietary changes will help, but may not completely remedy the problem.

[Anonymous]

Hi I think the cholesterol problem ur kid having is genetic as u both have it.still you could try to make him active and continue giving healthy food, and skim milk.most important of all is keep on praying for ur kid to the lord and he will defenitely heal him

[Anonymous]

If there's ever proof choleresterol problems can be hereditary, here it is.

I concur. Work with a nutritionist.

[Anonymous]

Was the test done while fasting? Otherwise disregard it until you get one done without any food intake for at least 10 hours.

[Anonymous]

Please urge your physician to get your child tested for familial hypercholesterolemia. It affects 1 in 500 people and if treated early, can prevent long-term cardiovascular effects. There is little reason that a three year-old should have high cholesterol, so please, please get your child examined for this. It may be nothing, but DEFINITELY worth checking out. Good luck!