Arteries carry blood rich in oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. Arteries naturally stiffen as we age, but this can be aggravated by smoking or conditions like diabetes. Stiff arteries can drive up blood pressure, increase the workload on the heart and raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. 

Researchers at the University of Bristol investigated links between childhood diet and arterial stiffness in adolescence. They found that eating a diet high in calories, fat and sugar, and low in fibre, at the ages of seven and 10 was associated with stiffer arteries aged 17.  

In addition, Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory eating patterns appeared to be protective for heart health, and children whose diets were most similar to these patterns had less stiff and more elastic arteries at 17. 

Dr Genevieve Buckland, BHF Research Fellow at Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, who led the research, said: "Our research highlights the importance of developing well-balanced eating habits from childhood to reduce the risk of future heart problems. Arterial stiffness is an important sign of blood vessel damage with potential for long-lasting effects.  

"Through its links to high blood pressure, it is associated with a variety of serious conditions including heart failure, stroke and vascular dementia. We hope that our work highlights the need for prevention strategies to stop arterial stiffness developing in people from such a young age."

Researchers collected information on the diets of over 4,700 children involved in the Children of the 90s health study. Diets were studied when they reached ages seven, 10 and 13. Arterial stiffness and arterial wall thickness were then measured in thousands of these children at ages 17 and 24. 

Diet was assessed using five different quality scores. The scores reflected how closely the child’s diet aligned to five dietary patterns, with each known to either help protect heart health or raise the risk of heart problems. 

The children with diets high in calories, fat and sugar and low in fibre at ages seven and 10, had stiffer arteries aged 17 compared to children who had eaten less calorific, fatty and sugary foods in childhood. In previous research on these children, this calorie-dense dietary pattern was associated with excess weight in childhood and adolescence.  

Some of the other dietary patterns investigated were also linked to blood vessel health. Seven-year-olds who had a more Mediterranean-style diet – which includes fruit and vegetables, beans and lentils, fish and unsaturated fats, and less meat and meat products – had reduced arterial stiffness at 17. 

Similarly, eating a diet with more anti-inflammatory nutrients at the age of 10 was associated with reduced arterial stiffness at 17. Foods considered to be anti-inflammatory include fruit and vegetables, particularly berries and a variety of brightly coloured vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds, spices and seafood. 

In general, children with healthier diets, according to the study’s scoring system, were more likely to be female, have a lower BMI, and have a mother with higher educational attainment and who came from a higher socio-economic background. 

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the BHF, said:"Cardiovascular disease is the UK’s major cause of disability and premature death and can hit those living in the least well-off areas hardest. The results of this study suggest that, to stop heart disease in its tracks, improving people’s diets has to start early and be lifelong.  

"A bold and comprehensive approach from Government is needed to ensure the healthy option is the easy option for everyone. This includes pushing ahead with delayed laws to curb junk food marketing, and driving industry to reduce the salt and sugar levels in our everyday foods. Only then will we give children the opportunity to live a long and healthy life, no matter where they live."

This research was also supported by the Wellcome Trust and the UK Medical Research Council. 

Paper

'Associations of childhood diet quality scores with arterial stiffness and carotid artery intima-media thickness in adolescence/early adulthood: findings from the ALSPAC cohort' by G Buckland, K Northstone, P M Emmett and C M Taylor in the British Journal of Nutrition [open access]