According to 30 years of research studies, dietary cholesterol consumption
has little effect on blood cholesterol levels in humans. In comparison a 1%
decrease in saturated fat consumption decreases plasma cholesterol. McNamara
DJ: Dietary cholesterol and the optimal diet for reducing risk of
atherosclerosis. Can J Cardiol 11 Suppl G:123G-126G, 1995..
When the normal diet of 16 male volunteers with normal cholesterol levels
were given a diet supplemented with nuts, the men's total and LDL
("bad") cholesterol levels dropped by 7% and 10% respectively after
supplementation with almonds, and by 5% and 9% respectively after
supplementation with walnuts. Abbey M et al: Partial replacement of saturated
fatty acids with almonds or walnuts lowers total plasma cholesterol and
low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr 59(5):995, 1994.
In a meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials examining the effects of garlic on
serum lipids and lipoproteins, total cholesterol in garlic-treated subjects was
12% lower than in controls after one month of therapy, with the effect
persisting for 6 months
Silagy C et al: Garlic as a lipid-lowering agent - a meta-analysis. J R Coll
Physicians Lond 28(1):39-45, 1994.
54 volunteers were found to have serum cholesterol levels reduced by 5-10%
after 1 week of supplementation with yoghurt. The intake of other foods did not
significantly change. Hepner G et al: Hypocholesterolemic effect of yoghurt and
milk. Am J Clin Nutr 32(1):19-24, 1979.
Of 158 subjects with high cholesterol given 1,500 and 2,000 mg per day of
niacin, there was an improvement in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL
cholesterol, and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio compared with baseline and
controls. Older subjects improved more than younger ones. Keenan JM et al:
Treatment of hypercholesterolemia: comparison of younger versus older patients
using wax-matrix sustained-release niacin. J Am Geriatr Soc 40(1):12-18,
1992.
