[420] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
Re: cholesterol
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Lewis Haddow)
Wed Mar 22 05:02:12 1995
From: Lewis Haddow <9235367@arran.sms.ed.ac.uk>
To: vsg@MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 09:57:40 +0000
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I took the liberty of checking up on the accepted scientific dogma on
cholesterol. (RK Murray et al, "Cholesterol synthesis, transport and
excretion", in: "Harper's Biochemistry" 23rd edn, chapter 28)
Cholesterol is the precursor for corticosteroids, sex hormones, bile
acids and vitamin D, as well as being important in cell membranes.
"Approximately half the cholesterol of the body arises by synthesis
(about 500 mg/day), and the remainder is provided by the average
diet." In an experiment involving rats (ie omnivores like us), when
dietary cholesterol was reduced to 0.05%, 70-80% of the body
cholesterol was synthesised in the liver, intestine and adrenal
gland (normally most is made in the skin). Raising the dietary intake
to 2% caused the endogenous production to fall. The text is unclear
on whether bodily requirements were met.
"Hereditary factors play the greatest role in determining individual
blood cholesterol concentrations, but of the dietary and
environmental factors that lower blood cholesterol, the substitution
in the diet of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids is
most beneficial."
"Serum cholesterol is correlated with incidence of atherosclerosis
and coronary heart disease." (as if we didn't know)
"Excess cholesterol is excreted from the liver in the bile as
cholesterol or bile salts." (Hence there is an increased risk of gall
stones, pancreatic cancer, etc.)
Certain types of fibre (but not much), such as that found in oats,
can actively reduce cholesterol levels.
If anyone is of a scientific bent, try reading the following:
Circulation (1990) volume 81, ff 1721
Annual Review of Nutrition (1986) volume 6, ff 248
American Journal of Cardiology (1991) volume 68:1A
I expect there are plenty of more recent data which could expand our
knowledge.
Lewis.
