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How does a low-cholesterol diet affect heart health?
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Cholesterol is produced mainly in the liver and enters the body with food products. We are talking about a fat-like substance that is necessary for humans in adequate quantities, since it plays the role of a building material for cell membranes. In addition, cholesterol is necessary for the synthesis of some human hormones. However, its excess is dangerous and can provoke the development of a number of diseases of the circulatory system.
Dietary changes to lower cholesterol levels involve replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats and improve overall vascular and heart health, according to a study led by American Heart Association physician Anne Carson.
The majority of cholesterol present in the blood is produced by the liver and is used to form new cellular structures. However, eating fatty dairy products, fatty meats and sausages, and other similar products adds not only "extra" cholesterol to the body, but also a lot of saturated fats that can lead to the accumulation of excess cholesterol in the blood. In turn, such processes accelerate the deposition of dense plaque on the inside of arterial vessels, which in turn leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.
In their study, the researchers analyzed a number of previously conducted controlled trials related to diet and its impact on cardiac activity. The analysis process demonstrated the existence of a dose-dependent relationship between dietary cholesterol and increased levels of arterial cholesterol blockage - but only if the amount of cholesterol entering the body exceeds the norm. It turns out that in order to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, a person needs to not only avoid saturated fats, but also monitor the norm when consuming polyunsaturated fats.
The researchers also noted that the tests included in the analyzed series were conducted against the background of supplying the participants with certain products and required a fairly large budget, so the number of subjects in the groups was strictly limited. But despite this, scientists are sure that for the health of the heart and blood vessels it is extremely necessary to follow the principles of healthy eating: it is preferable to eat vegetables, fruits, whole grain products, low-fat dairy products, white meat of poultry, fish and seafood, nuts and seeds. Many will ask: is it possible to include chicken eggs in the diet? Nutritionists note that in general, the consumption of eggs in different variations did not affect the cardiac activity of the study participants, so it is quite possible to eat one egg a day without the risk of harming the cardiovascular system.
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