Cholesterol guidelines are examined by scientific experts

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new report looks at the different approaches to cholesterol restriction adopted in different countries.
The link between high cholesterol and heart disease is now well known. But what is the best way to keep your cholesterol under control? The Life Sciences Research Office, an organization based in Washington DC which provides scientific advice, has been looking at approaches adopted in different countries.

In the USA, a maximum daily intake of 300 mg is recommended for cholesterol from food. But in Australia/New Zealand, Canada and the UK, the emphasis is upon limiting saturated and total fat. In the USA, the guidance was developed as long ago as 1970 and was aimed specifically at people with high cholesterol; it was put onto food labels in 1995. More recently, health authorities in the USA have said that the relationship between cholesterol intake and low density lipoprotein (LDL or 'bad') cholesterol is direct and influences the risk of heart disease. Therefore cholesterol intake needs to be as low as possible.

But in the other countries, cholesterol in food is not seen as the main influence on LDL cholesterol and it is thought better to focus on reducing saturated and total fat intake by encouraging intake of leaner meat, reduced-fat dairy foods, and plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The findings are important for people who wish to understand the scientific evidence on which their nutritional advice is based.

Source
Life Sciences Research Office 10th January 2007

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