Cholesterol Skeptics
Wrapup

What can we take away from this dialog?

In my opinion changing quantities and ratios of fats in one's diet within normal limits make very little difference to one's risk, even if one's cholesterol level does change. The mere fact that an effect is so difficult to pinpoint, and is open to discussion after so many years of diet advice, shows that it cannot be very significant.

In my opinion, the issue of whether cholesterol causes CHD or just measures it loses much of its importance following the previous conclusion. It is of importance to medical scientists studying the mechanism(s) of CHD, who may be able to identify the exact pathways to the disease and find a cure.

In my opinion, it is very important conduct research to identify the lifestyle factors that impact CHD - why populations with different lifestyles but seemingly similar conventional risk factors, have vastly different risks.

• Is it a tightly knit multi-generational family unit that provides safety, security and comfort?

• The attitude of people, their ambition, their striving for more worldly goods, compared to people who are content with what they have?

• Could it be due to taking an afternoon nap?

• Could it be a result of using public transportation, that encourages more physical activity?

• Does it have anything to do with the number of hours worked per week, and/or the number of hours one is expected to work per week?

• Is it related to the degree of physical and/or financial security one feels?

• Is it connected to a positive (as opposed to negative) approach to life?

• Some, all, or none of the above!

I hope that science will be able to progress beyond the numerical measurements of physical properties (e.g., cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, weight, exercise) and determine the socio-psychological factors that seem to be as important as the physical factors. While there are some measurements of the impact of stress, I doubt that those measurements adequately incorporate the entire spectrum of stress that many of us experience in our daily lives. Another study that indicates that optimism decreases the risk of heart disease, adding one more important psychological factor that is hard to quantify and correct for!

A recent review independently raises serious doubts about the connection between saturated fats and heart disease. To read, click here.

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