Controversies and discrepancies in the effect of dietary fat and cholesterol on cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The top ten causes of death in Singapore include many cardiovascular-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease. The increasing prevalence of CVD poses a burden to both the economy and healthcare system of a country. Dietary habits, in particular dietary fats and cholesterol intake, have been shown to greatly influence CVD risks. Therefore, reference and adherence to relevant dietary guidelines could be crucial in CVD prevention. Recent research findings have provided novel insights into the relationship between certain dietary fats or cholesterol intake and CVD risks, challenging or reinforcing previous guidelines. These findings may, however, be conflicting, and there is still controversy over the effect of dietary fat and cholesterol as well as their association with cardiovascular risk. This review paper aims to evaluate common controversies, identifying gaps in relevant research areas and summarising evidence-based dietary recommendations.