Dr. Stephen Daniels, of the academy's nutrition committee, said the new guidelines were being issued as evidence indicated that damage to the heart begins early in life.

"If we are more aggressive about this in childhood, I think we can have an impact on what happens later in life ... and avoid some of these heart attacks and strokes in adulthood," Daniels said.

The main criteria for recommending drugs for kids will be levels of LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure.

The AAP also recommends low-fat milk for 1-year-old and routine cholesterol testing for kids.

Source-Medindia
RAS/L