Nation Lowers Its Cholesterol Level

Americans have managed to lower their cholesterol levels over the last two decades. Blood samples collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, known by the abbreviation NHANES, reveals positive trends. Overall, total cholesterol went from 206 in first sample to 196 between 2007 and 2010.
This includes an increasing number of people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs. In 1988 to 1994 only about 3 percent of the surveyed adults were on such medications. By 2007 to 2010 that number had risen to 15.5 percent. Even those who were not taking cholesterol-lowering drugs saw a drop in blood lipids. Total cholesterol dropped from 206 to 199. The researchers hypothesize that dietary changes that included fewer trans fats and less carbohydrate might account for these improvements.
[Journal of the American Medical Association, October 17, 2012]