When monkeys ate a lot of fat and cholesterol for just 6 weeks, their bad cholesterol levels went up, their good cholesterol didn't keep up, and their cholesterol particles didn't get bigger—just more numerous.

12

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

12

Community contributions welcome

12

Effect of palm olein oil in a moderate-fat diet on low-density lipoprotein composition in non-human primates.

Cohort Study

Animal

2002

Scientists fed some monkeys a fatty, high-cholesterol diet and others a normal diet for 6 weeks. The fatty-diet monkeys had more bad cholesterol and a worse cholesterol ratio, but their cholesterol particles stayed the same size — just like the claim said.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Effect of palm olein oil in a moderate-fat diet on low-density lipoprotein composition in non-human primates.

Score: 12

DOI: 10.1046/J.1440-6047.11.S.7.2.X

Similar Assertions

When monkeys ate a high-fat diet, their bad cholesterol went up not because each particle got fuller of cholesterol, but because there were way more particles floating around in their blood.

12

0

89%

When monkeys ate more healthy fats like linoleic acid instead of saturated fats, their blood cholesterol levels dropped by about a quarter, no matter the species.

10

0

75%

When monkeys ate a diet with moderate fat, it didn't matter if the fat came from palm oil, lard, or sunflower oil— their 'bad cholesterol' particles stayed the same in number, shape, and content.

12

0

74%

If you're overweight and have high 'bad' cholesterol, eating fewer carbs for four weeks might help lower your bad cholesterol and improve your overall cholesterol balance better than eating low-fat, high-carb foods.

0

71%