Cholesterol may not be as bad for health as traditionally believed, according to a new study.
Federal Dietary Guidelines have been detailed since 1980, and are updated once every five years.
This report is designed to provide Americans with guidelines for proper nutrition, as well as directing marketing and packaging for food manufacturers. The government report has warned people, since 1977, to limit their cholesterol consumption to a maximum of 300 milligrams a day.
Cholesterol is popularly linked to heart disease and other conditions, but scientific studies have not found consistent clear health risks from their consumption. The human body also produces more cholesterol than it takes in through diet.
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Dgac) studying changes to the recommendations for 2015 has determined that the substance, in the diet, poses no significant health threat to the public.
"Cholesterol is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption," Dgac reported.
Researchers stated that cholesterol can clog arteries, presenting a health risk, but that consuming too much through food is no longer considered a concern. Foods high in the group of chemicals include seafood, organ meats, and eggs. The report highlights hazards of foods high in saturated fats, including butter, whole milk, and meats rich in fat.
Diabetics are still warned to limit their intake of cholesterol, and warnings about LDL, or bad cholesterol remain in effect.
The group met in December 2014, reaching a decision on the new recommendation. Although they have not yet developed the full report, a video of their meeting was posted online. An unnamed insider has confirmed that the new guidelines on cholesterol will be part of the upcoming publication. Panel members have agreed not to comment on the group's findings until the report is released to the public.
During the meeting, one panel member seemed unhappy on the decision regarding the removal of a warning to limit cholesterol.
"So we're not making a [cholesterol] recommendation? Okay... Bummer," Miriam Nelson from Tufts University, said.
The first warnings about cholesterol were put out by the American Heart Association in 1961. Once the recommendations were adopted by the federal government, egg consumption dropped by 30 percent, hurting farmers.
Several other nations do not currently recommend that their citizens limit intake of cholesterol, and some health professionals believe changes by the United States are long overdue. Others believe warnings should remain in place, adding to the confusion over conflicting findings on nutrition and healthy eating.
"Almost every single nutrient imaginable has peer-reviewed publications associating it with almost any outcome. In this literature of epidemic proportions, how many results are correct?" John P.A. Ioannidis, a professor of medicine and statistics at Stanford University, said.
