Dietary fat and cholesterol

Quick Facts…

• In healthy amounts, fat and cholesterol help our bodies function properly. However when consumed in excess, they may promote disease.
• Overweight, obesity, and high intake of saturated fats are major risk factors for elevated LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol levels.
• Saturated fats and trans fats have a significant effect in raising blood cholesterol levels.
• Elevated blood cholesterol levels are a risk factor for heart disease and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
• Most Americans consume too much fat and cholesterol—mostly from animal fat, prepackaged foods, and processed foods.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all animals including humans and is essential to every cell in the body. Cholesterol is used to make certain hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, and it is part of a chemical called bile, which helps to digest fats. A special form of cholesterol found in the skin has the ability to change into vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. There are two different types of cholesterol:

1. Blood, or serum, cholesterol—this type circulates in the blood and is mostly made by the body.
2. Dietary cholesterol—this type comes from foods and beverages of animal origin.

How is blood cholesterol transported by the body? Cholesterol is transported in the blood by different carriers. The relative amounts of cholesterol transported by each carrier can affect one’s risk for heart disease. The two major blood cholesterol carriers are LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). LDL cholesterol is known as “bad” blood cholesterol, and functions to deliver cholesterol to cells throughout the body and can be deposited as “plaque” on artery walls. HDL cholesterol is known as “good” blood cholesterol, and functions as a vehicle in the blood to remove cholesterol waste from the body via the liver (Table 1).

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