Total Dietary Fat: Recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program

NCEP Evidence Statement: Unsaturated fatty acids do not raise LDL cholesterol concentrations when substituted for carbohydrates in the diet (Strength of Evidence: A2, B2).

NCEP Recommendation: It is not necesary to restrict total fat intake for the express purpose of reducing LDL cholesterol levels, provided saturated fatty acids are reduced to goal levels (less than 7% of daily calories).

NCEP Evidence Statement: The percent of total fat in the diet, independent of caloric intake, has not been documented to be related to body weight or risk for cancer in the general population. Short-term studies suggest that very high fat intakes (greater than 35% of calories) modify metabolism in ways that could promote obesity (C2). On the other hand, very high carbohydrate intakes (greater than 60% of calories) aggravate some of the lipid and non-lipid risk factors common in the metabolic syndrome (A2. B2, C2).

NCEP Recommendations: Dietary fat recommendations should emphasize reduction in saturated fatty acids. Further, for persons with lipid disorders or the metabolic syndrome, extremes of total fat intake--either high or low--should be avoided. In such persons, total fat intakes should range from 25-35 percent of calories. For some persons with metabolic syndrome, a total fat intake of 30-35 percent may reduce lipid and non-lipid risk factors.