Plasma vitamin A and E Levels in Children With Familial Type II Hyperlipoproteinemia During Therapy With Diet and Cholestyramine Resin

Abstract

Effects of a low cholesterol (<300 mg/day), polyunsaturate-rich (P:S 1.5/1) diet and cholestyramine resin (12 gm active resin per day) on plasma vitamin A and E levels were studied in 46 children with familial type II hyperlipoproteinemia. On diet alone (for four to six months), vitatmin A and E levels were higher in children with familial type II than in normal control children (p<.0l). Thirty of the 46 children with familial type II did not normalize cholesterol and beta-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol on diet alone, and were followed subsequently on diet with additional cholestyramine resin (12 gm/day) for six months. Despite lowering of LDL on diet and cholestyramine resin, vitamin A and E levels remained higher in children with familial type II than in normal controls (p<.0l). Our short-term experience suggests that neither diet nor cholestyramine resin represents any immediate threat to maintenance of adequate vitamin A and E levels in children with familial hypercholesterolemia who have supranormal levels of these fat-soluble vitamins and LDL prior to and during treatment.