# Cholesterol in the diet need no longer be considered a “nutrient of concern” **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347 "2015-02-11T00:01:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/21 "2015-02-11T17:48:25Z")
Speaking as someone who two days ago hard-boiled 18 eggs, and now has only 1 egg left… …_ **I knew it!** _ See? Why the scienticians don’t listen to me, I don’t know… ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/22 "2015-02-11T18:33:38Z")
I’m waiting for the industry sponsored food pyramid that tells Americans they’re too fat because they don’t eat enough fattening food. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/23 "2015-02-11T18:38:31Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Good, now everyone can STFU about my butter. > [@sisu](#): > > mmmm bacon cooked in butter with extra eggs… If you read what they are actually saying, it’s still that saturated fats are bad. It’s just cholesterol as such in isolation which is not bad. So butter is still pretty much the Food of Maximum Evil. With bacon coming a close second. The eggs, if not cooked in butter or bacon grease, are much better than previously feared. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/24 "2015-02-11T18:41:15Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > This federal panel renewed the dietary cholesterol warning five years ago. Apparently they have decided that the weight of the evidence now tilts the other way. > > Pharmaceutical commercials have been characterizing cholesterol levels as having two sources (diet and genetics) for the last several years. Overall, I think it’s fair to say that it’s old news that genetics can influence one’s levels, but the decision to eliminate diet from concern is new. I’m not talking about federal guidelines, but the general idea that dietary cholesterol itself has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels. I see posts on the SDMB from as early as [2001 where this seems to be fairly accepted knowledge](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=92048). That’s what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/25 "2015-02-11T23:36:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you read what they are actually saying, it’s still that saturated fats are bad. It’s just cholesterol as such in isolation which is not bad. > > So butter is still pretty much the Food of Maximum Evil. With bacon coming a close second. The eggs, if not cooked in butter or bacon grease, are much better than previously feared. meh, I eat this all the time and have low cholesterol, so a lot has to do with genetics me thinks? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/26 "2015-02-11T23:44:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > So butter is still pretty much the Food of Maximum Evil. With bacon coming a close second. The eggs, if not cooked in butter or bacon grease, are much better than previously feared. Well, I’m dead anyway. Shit. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/27 "2015-02-12T00:50:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m not talking about federal guidelines, but the general idea that dietary cholesterol itself has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels. I see posts on the SDMB from as early as [2001 where this seems to be fairly accepted knowledge](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=92048). That’s what I’m talking about. Perhaps you’re right, and mainstream scientific opinion, as reflected among certain message board participants, had shifted by 2001, and today’s news only demonstrates fringe groups like the US government’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee falling into line. 😛 😉 More seriously, nutrition research is famously all over the map. There have been studies disputing dietary cholesterol for some time, but I think today’s news represents a shift in the consensus assessment of the direction in which the weight of the research leans. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/28 "2015-02-12T01:05:50Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Perhaps you’re right, and mainstream scientific opinion, as reflected among certain message board participants, had shifted by 2001, and today’s news only demonstrates fringe groups like the US government’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee falling into line. 😛 😉 > > More seriously, nutrition research is famously all over the map. There have been studies disputing dietary cholesterol for some time, but I think today’s news represents a shift in the consensus assessment of the direction in which the weight of the research leans. I understand. I guess I’m just not surprised by this, as I’ve been seeing the research reflect this for at least a decade. I expect a similar thing will happen with salt reduction guidelines as well. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/29 "2015-02-12T01:13:58Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I would as well. I have excellent blood lipids despite 60 to 65% of my caloric intake coming as fats. What I don’t eat are sugar and starch. Hm, being diabetic I also avoid random carbs and sugars, and my lipid profiles are excellent also. Makes one wonder:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/30 "2015-02-13T03:04:38Z")
I’ve been saying this for years. It didn’t take very much investigation to find out this truth. Suck it, health nazis! ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/31 "2015-02-14T20:15:54Z")
I’ve always assumed this, based entirely on the purely anecdotal evidence of my grandfathers. My maternal grandfather ate a lot of “healthy alternative” foods, was often in ill health, and passed away in his 70s. My paternal grandfather eats bacon, eggs, salty meats, and sweets daily (albeit in moderate portions). He’s been in great health for his whole life, played tennis into his 80s, and is pushing 100. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/32 "2015-02-15T00:28:42Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you read what they are actually saying, it’s still that saturated fats are bad. It’s just cholesterol as such in isolation which is not bad. > > So butter is still pretty much the Food of Maximum Evil. With bacon coming a close second. The eggs, if not cooked in butter or bacon grease, are much better than previously feared. I don’t think there is any consensus at all that butter is “the food of maximum evil.” ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/33 "2015-02-15T00:47:27Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Damn you, Big Egg! The other white meat. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/34 "2015-02-15T00:50:28Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > meh, I eat this all the time and have low cholesterol, so a lot has to do with genetics me thinks? What’s your sugar intake like? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/35 "2015-02-15T01:23:35Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Hm, being diabetic I also avoid random carbs and sugars, and my lipid profiles are excellent also. Makes one wonder:dubious: IMO Atkins was ridiculed not for what he promoted, but for what the popular media _said_ he promoted. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/36 "2015-02-15T01:42:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you read what they are actually saying, it’s still that saturated fats are bad. It’s just cholesterol as such in isolation which is not bad. > > So butter is still pretty much the Food of Maximum Evil. With bacon coming a close second. The eggs, if not cooked in butter or bacon grease, are much better than previously feared. Not so clear cut. [Association of Dietary, Circulating, and Supplement Fatty Acids With Coronary Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis](http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1846638) > [@](#): > > Conclusion: Current evidence does not clearly support cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats. > > Primary Funding Source: British Heart Foundation, Medical Research Council, Cambridge National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, and Gates Cambridge. ---
**Author:** ![BaldDudePeekskill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@BaldDudePeekskill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldDudePeekskill)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/37 "2015-02-15T02:23:27Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Hm, being diabetic I also avoid random carbs and sugars, and my lipid profiles are excellent also. Makes one wonder:dubious: I’m hypoglycemic and have the same experience. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347/38 "2015-02-15T20:24:56Z")
The problem remains that recommendations like this are by necessity one size fits all and humanity consists of much variety. The science has always been that some people, a minority, are quite sensitive to dietary cholesterol intact and respond amazingly well to significant restriction of it, and many are not. Even 15 years ago the American Heart Association was far from vilifying dietary cholesterol, stating it [as follows](http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/18/2284.full): > [@AHA in 2000](#): > > … Dietary cholesterol can increase LDL cholesterol levels, although to a lesser extent than saturated fat.51 As is the case with saturated fat intake, this response varies widely among individuals.56 Most foods high in saturated fat are also sources of dietary cholesterol … Their main point was to emphasize diet plans that consists of lots of vegetables and fruits, fish, legumes, nuts, some lean meats and to limit foods that contain high amounts of saturated fats. Again the advice in 2000: > [@AHA in 2000](#): > > diets high in total carbohydrate (eg, \>60% of energy) can lead to elevated triglyceride and reduced HDL cholesterol,63 64 effects that may be associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.65 These changes may be lessened with diets high in fiber, in which carbohydrate is derived largely from unprocessed whole foods and may be more extreme with consumption of monosaccharides (particularly fructose) … They also have always recognized that they were working off the best available information but that it was far from settled science: > [@again the AHA in 2000](#): > > The present formulation of the AHA Dietary Guidelines acknowledges the difficulty in most cases of supporting specific target intakes with unequivocal scientific evidence. Really there has been no major sea shift so much as a refocus of the messaging. This recent bit is if anything very retro, a focus on a single dietary component as “good” or “bad”; the change over the years has been a greater understanding that we eat and are impacted by complete nutrition patterns, not single parts. Better understanding that processed meats are particularly bad now though. How the media messages this stuff is another story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholesterol-in-the-diet-need-no-longer-be-considered-a-nutrient-of-concern/712347.md?page=1)