Confusion over Cholesterol: The American Heart Association Weighs In

Several recent cardiovascular risk–reduction and nutritional guidelines have eliminated restrictions on dietary cholesterol intake. In response to the ongoing controversy over this issue, the American Heart Association (AHA) has published a science advisory assessing the evidence on the role of dietary cholesterol in cardiovascular health.

The statement acknowledges that the evidence linking dietary cholesterol to cardiovascular risk is weak and often contradictory. Most observational studies report no significant association between dietary cholesterol (or egg consumption) and adverse cardiovascular events. Furthermore, interpreting these studies is difficult because most foods containing cholesterol are also high in saturated fat. Thus, th…