Dietary Cholesterol

[al-209]

OK, it doesnt promote atherosclerosis. Its not bad for you. But if the body creates its own cholesterol as required, what does ones body use dietary cholesterol for and is it required for a healthy diet??

[NU_nutrition_TS]

It is probably not required for the vast majority of people but, since it is often present in foods which are also rich in many other essential or conditionally essential nutrients (egg yolks, for example), it is not worth avoiding it either!

It is thought, based on recent research, that a small percentage of the population (around 3%) who suffer from a genetic problem called SLOS (Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome) would probably find that dietary cholesterol is a required nutrient for them as it seems to ameliorate some of the symptoms of this particular disease or illness - spontaneous abortion within the first sixteen weeks of gestation while children born with this genetic defect suffer from mental retardation, autism, facial and skeletal malformations, visual dysfunctions and failure to thrive. In 'carriers' of this genetic defect, who may number significantly more within the population but not suffer such overt physical symptoms, there may be increased tendencies toward violent behaviours including suicide.

[lee25]

Quote

OK, it doesnt promote atherosclerosis. Its not bad for you. But if the body creates its own cholesterol as required, what does ones body use dietary cholesterol for and is it required for a healthy diet??

Dietary intake of cholesterol accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of total blood cholesterol.