Consistency between US dietary fat intake and serum total cholesterol concentrations: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Abstract

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANESs) are conducted periodically to assess the health and nutritional status of the US population by means of standardized interviews and physical examinations. Since the early 1970s there have been three national cross-sectional surveys: NHANES I, 1971-1974; NHANES II, 1976-1980; and NHANES III, phase 1, 1988-1991. During the 18 y between the midpoint of NHANES I (1972) and the midpoint of phase 1 of NHANES III (1990), the age-adjusted mean percentage of energy from fat declined from 36.4% to 34.1% for adults aged 20-74 y. Trend data are shown for dietary fat and cholesterol as well as for serum cholesterol from NHANES I (1971-1975) to NHANES III (1988-1991) by age, sex, and race-ethnicity. The results document a decline in dietary fat, saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, and serum cholesterol. The observed changes reflect those that are predicted by the classic Keys and Hegsted formulas. Changes in reported intake are matched by similar shifts in the food supply for sources of these nutrients. These changes suggest that the Healthy People 2000 goal of reducing the mean serum cholesterol concentration of US adults to < or = 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L) is attainable. The changes in diet are promising, yet we are challenged to achieve greater reductions in the intake of total fat and saturated fatty acids.

Trends in Cardiovascular Health Metrics in Obese Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1988–2014

“…Further studies are need to unravel the underlying causes of this troubling phenomena. The improvements in mean blood pressure and blood cholesterol may reflect the healthy trends in the US population, including decreases in the proportion of dietary saturated fat; increases in fruits and vegetables and the proportion of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in the diet34, 35, 36, 37; decreased smoking38, 39, 40; and increased awareness, identification, and pharmacological treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure levels 25, 41…”

Dietary cholesterol and egg yolks: Not for patients at risk of vascular disease

“…The general population was advised to limit cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg/day (9,10). More recently, the "Healthy People 2000" goal (11) of a dietary cholesterol intake of 200 mg/day or less for the general United States population appeared to be obtainable based on trends seen in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (12). A single egg yolk contains approximately 215 mg to 275 mg of cholesterol (depending on the size).…”

Obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and sexual dysfunction

“…70 Since there is no reason to assume that there have been mass decreases in resting metabolic rate or genetic mutations that affect energy metabolism, decreases in average daily energy expenditure appear to be the most likely cause of the increases in obesity in the population. 71 It seems likely that the probable decline in energy expenditure is due to the more subtle changes of gradually engineering the need to expend energy out of daily life.…”