Research

Macro partitioning

Increasing dietary cholesterol intake to levels substantially above the previous 300 mg/day limit does not negatively impact LDL-C, HDL-C, or triglyceride levels when consumed within the context of a healthy, low-carbohydrate weight loss diet.

If you are following a healthy low-carbohydrate diet and losing weight, you do not need to restrict your cholesterol intake to 300 mg per day. Increasing your intake of cholesterol-rich foods like eggs, while reducing refined grains and sugars, does not appear to negatively affect your blood lipid levels (LDL, HDL, triglycerides). Focus on the overall quality of your diet rather than a specific cholesterol number.

GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
An increase in daily dietary cholesterol intake to levels substantially above the previous 300 mg upper limit was not associated with a negative impact on lipid profiles in the setting of a healthy, low-carbohydrate weight loss diet.
Mónica Vergara et al. · Nutrients · 2021

Why this rating

Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial with a relatively large sample size (n=208) and rigorous dietary assessment (unannounced 24-hour recalls), though observational in this specific secondary analysis.

Source

Associations of Changes in Blood Lipid Concentrations with Changes in Dietary Cholesterol Intake in the Context of a Healthy Low-Carbohydrate Weight Loss Diet: A Secondary Analysis of the DIETFITS Trial

Mónica Vergara et al. · Nutrients · 2021

rct · n=609Cited 4×
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