National Cholesterol Education Program dietary recommendations

Van Horn, L and Ernst, N (2001) A summary of the science supporting the new National Cholesterol Education Program dietary recommendations What dietitians should know. J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 101, 1148-1154. 

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-recommended steps to lower the risk of CAD, collectively referred to as the TLC, are presented in Table 8.4. These guidelines are typically used for higher-risk individuals with elevated plasma cholesterol concentrations, established cardiovascular disease, and more than one major risk factor. The TLC dietary guidelines are relatively stringent, limiting daily total and saturated fat intakes to <30% and 7% of total energy and cholesterol... 

FDA reviewed the scientific evidence and recommendations of various scientific bodies, including the Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Science, an expert panel for the National Cholesterol Education Program, and the Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000. On July 9, 2003, the FDA issued a regulation requiring manufacturers to list trans fatty acids on the Nutrition Facts panel of the labels of foods and some dietary supplements. The new requirement will mean that manufacturers of most conventional foods and some dietary supplements will have to list in the Nutrition Facts panel the trans fat content of the product, in addition to the information about its overall fat content and saturated fat content. Dietary supplement manufacturers will need to list trans fat, as well as saturated fat and cholesterol, on the Supplement Facts panel when their products contain more than trace amounts (0.5 g) of trans fat. Examples of dietary supplements that may contain trans fat are energy and nutrition bars. 

Both of Ms. Jeina s younger brothers had very high serum cholesterol levels, and both had suffered heart attacks in their mid-forties. With this information, a tentative diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia, type IIA was made, and the patient was started on a step I diet as recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III. This panel recommends that decisions with regard to when dietary and drug therapy are initiated based on the serum LDL cholesterol level, as depicted in Table 34.1. 

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