Background

A low cholesterol diet involves the consumption foods that contain little cholesterol. For example, red meats, egg yolks, organ meats, whole milk and milk products are avoided, because they increase the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that the body already makes. This cholesterol is absorbed through the intestines and added to what the liver makes. There are two types of cholesterol in the body - low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Diets that include large amounts of LDL or "unhealthy" cholesterol result in an over accumulation of LDL in the body. Excessive LDL binds to arteries.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a low cholesterol diet is one of the three most important things a person can do to prevent heart disease. The other factors include quitting smoking and getting regular exercise. Dietary cholesterol has not been proven as a cause of heart disease. Rather high quantities of LDL occur in patients with a high risk of heart disease, therefore, there is a significant association between the two occurrences. One out of every two American men will develop heart disease, and one in three American women will develop heart disease, according to the National Blood, Lung, and Heart Institute.

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Safety Safety definitions

Pregnancy And Lactation: There is insufficient reliable evidence about the safety of the low cholesterol diet in pregnancy and lactation. There is no reason to expect safety issues.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

There is insufficient reliable evidence about the effectiveness of the low cholesterol diet.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

None known.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

None known.

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

Interactions with diseases

Mechanism of action

Most American diets include an intake of much more LDL than HDL. This means that LDL theoretically accumulates in the arteries of the body and brain, forming plaque. With continually high levels of LDL in the body, these plaques grow larger, and blood flow through the artery is increasingly restricted. The continued presence and accumulation of plaques in the body leads to a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a major cause of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, according to the American Heart Association. Because of this effect on the body, LDL is known as "bad" cholesterol.

HDL transports LDL back to the liver, where it is excreted through the body. Since HDL does not form plaques in the arteries and helps excrete LDL, it is known as "good" cholesterol.

When doctors talk about a "low cholesterol diet," they are referring to the ratio of "good" to "bad" cholesterol in the diet. In general, these levels should be consumed equal moderation, or more "good" cholesterol should be consumed than "bad."

Patients are advised to follow a low cholesterol diet because of excessive accumulation of LDL in the body. This diet helps to even out the proportion of LDL to HDL, while also preventing or slowing the accumulation of LDL in arteries and theoretically preventing heart disease.