Concerns of Nutritional and Medical Experts About Fat and Cholesterol in the Diet

Scientific and medical communities agree on the need for variety in the diet and that dietary requirements change at various stages of the life cycle. The greatest area of controversy centers around issues of dietary cholesterol, total fat, and saturation of the fat. Areas of controversy and confusion were highlighted in a series of statements before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Agricultural Appropriations in July, 1980, and the House of Representatives Agricultural Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing, Consumer Relations and Nutrition in June, 1980. To clarify and simplify issues, particularly those involving dietary fat, six questions were formulated and pertinent quotations were used as answers. The questions were: 1. Should public agencies make general dietary recommendations? 2. Is epidemiological evidence sufficient grounds for dietary recommendations? 3. Should current dietary practices be modified? 4. Will dietary modification reduce blood lipids, particularly cholesterol? 5. Will reduced serum cholesterol reduce the likelihood of vascular diseases? 6. Should individuals wait for symptoms of atherosclerosis before modifying their diet to reduce serum lipids?