How is hyperlipidemia treated?
Lowering cholesterol levels in children and teens can help protect against heart disease. This can be done through diet, exercise, and medication. Children should be encouraged to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, as well as a wide variety of other foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol. They should avoid fast foods, high sugar and high salt snacks (chips and chocolate bars), and soft drinks. A dietitian can provide more information on how to help you and your child make healthy food choices. Severe hyperlipidemia that can’t be controlled by lifestyle changes will need medication, often a combination of drugs. Examples of medication used include statins, bile acid resins, and niacin. Statins are usually given to treat hyperlipidemia in children because they have been well studied and shown to reduce cholesterol levels in children as young as age 6. Regular checks of the blood’s cholesterol level will also be needed to see whether treatment is working.
