Does Dietary Cholesterol Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Exercising People? A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Background: There is no clear evidence that dietary cholesterol increases cardiovascular risk (CVR), likely due to the lack of control for physical activity. We hypothesized in the presence of a standardized exercise program that varying dietary cholesterol would not change CVR. Methods: 3 groups of 50–69 year old subjects (N=30) underwent 12 weeks of resistance exercise training (RET, 3×/week, 2–3 sets, 8–12 reps, 70% of max strength). Each group consumed 3.5 mg/kg lean/day (<200 mg/day, LC), 7.0 mg/kg lean/day (∼400 mg/day, MC), or 14.0 mg/kg lean/day (∼800 mg/day, HC) of cholesterol. Results: No significant differences were found among 3 groups in regard to changes of blood cholesterol (mg/dl, LC: −1.9±15, MC: 4.7±38, HC: 5.9±12, P=.784), HDL (LC: 0.8±2, MC: −0.2±7, HC: 2.1±6, P=.684), LDL (LC: −0.4±13, MC: 12.9±23, HC: 7.5±11, P=.247), triglycerides (LC:−11.8±16, MC:7.6±41, HC:−10±47, P=.479), cholesterol/HDL ratio (LC: −0.08±0.3, MC: 0.08±0.9, HC: −0.02±0.4, P=.846), and systolic/diastolic blood pressures (mmHg, LC: 1.1±5, MC: −2.1±6, HC: −2.1±6, P=.340 / LC: −0.8±4, MC: 0.03±4, HC: 0.1±5, P=.859). Conclusion: The results suggest that variability of dietary cholesterol may not increase CVR in the context of RET which is supported by the weak link of dietary cholesterol to CVR in studies that did not control physical activity.
