Abstract:

Dietary cholesterol has long been implicated in regulating blood cholesterol levels, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a key marker of cardiovascular health. Understanding the role of dietary cholesterol is critical, given its potential influence on the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This short-term observational study evaluated the effects of high-cholesterol and low-cholesterol diets on LDL cholesterol levels in healthy adults aged 25-50 years. A total of 160 participants were randomly assigned to either a high-cholesterol or low-cholesterol diet for six months. Dietary intake was monitored using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and self-reported food diaries while fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, three months, and six months to measure LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Results revealed a modest 8.3% increase in LDL cholesterol in the high-cholesterol group (p < 0.05), while the low-cholesterol group exhibited a slight but statistically insignificant decrease of 3.4% (p > 0.05). Other lipid parameters, such as HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, remained stable in both groups. The findings suggest that dietary cholesterol may have a limited but measurable impact on LDL cholesterol levels, without significantly influencing overall cardiovascular risk in the short term. These results challenge traditional views on dietary cholesterol and emphasize the importance of individualized dietary recommendations. This study contributes valuable insights to the ongoing discussion surrounding cholesterol management and dietary guidelines.

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