Risk factor status for cardiovascular disease is affected by life style. 
Adolescence is a time during which long term life-style habits, including 
dietary habits, are established. Physicians who treat adolescent patients have a 
responsibility to be aware of the scientific evidence on the diet-heart question 
so that they can provide their patients with sound dietary advice. The American 
Heart Association has recommended that Americans consume a "prudent diet" in 
which daily consumption of cholesterol is no more than 300 mg with up to 30-35% 
of calories derived from fat, and less than 10% of calories derived from 
saturated fat and less than 10% from polyunsaturated fat. This paper reviews 
this recommendation with particular reference to studies of adolescents. This 
review centers around four main issues: 1) the estimated effect on serum 
cholesterol levels of a switch from the usual American diet to the prudent diet; 
2) the effect of a predicted decrease in serum cholesterol on the risk of 
developing cardiovascular disease; 3) evaluation of the evidence of possible 
adverse effects of the prudent diet; 4) feasibility of the prudent diet. Based 
on a review of these four issues, the authors feel that the American Heart 
Association's prudent diet should be strongly recommended for all healthy 
adolescents.