BETHESDA, Md.—U.S. daily dietary recommendations for cholesterol are at odds with international guidelines that recommend reducing total fat intake and shifting to unsaturated fats from saturated and trans fats, according to a Life Science Research Organization Inc. (LSRO) review article in the June 2010 issue of Nutrition Reviews summarizing the December 2008 Conference on Cholesterol: Where Science and Public Health Policy Intersect. Current U.S. dietary policy is focused on cholesterol intake and its effect on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.
As reported by Newswise, U.S. policy recommends limiting intake of cholesterol to less than 300 mg/d for the general population and less than 200 mg/d for those with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
According to the review, trans fatty acid, omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and food sources of soluble dietary fiber all affect blood cholesterol and CHD risk; dietary recommendations stated in scientific language are potentially confusing to the general public; numerical recommendations can cause undue focus on one food or nutrient over another with potentially adverse, unintended consequences; it may be more effective for government agency recommendations to be expressed in vivid, concrete language; for a greater variety of food suggest “eat a rainbow every day”; for increased fruits and vegetables suggest “5 a day”; avoid saturated fats for cooking and food preparation; improved access to healthy foods and more choices for those receiving food assistance (via SNAP and WIC) may improve the diets of program participants; and better educated consumers may adopt healthier eating habits, resulting in improved health, greater energy and weight control.
