Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response to modification of saturated fat intake: recent insights.

Two lines of investigation have provided important insights into dietary therapy of hypercholesterolemia. Studies have confirmed the efficacy of the US National Cholesterol Education Program Step II diet in lowering serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations and demonstrate that wide variability exists in responsiveness to this diet. Other studies indicate that, contrary to expectations, cholesterol raising saturated fatty acids are not limited to long-chain saturates, but also include medium-chain and very long-chain saturated fatty acids.