“The “cholesterol wars” ended a few years ago with a widespread acknowledgment that high levels of LDL cholesterol (over 1.9) increase the risk of coronary heart disease.”
But reducing total cholesterol just to reduce LDL is a recipe for disaster. That’s what the data show. The ratio of HDL to LDL is what’s important, and most people reduce them both to their detriment.
The whole cholesterol-causes-heart-disease was predicated on junk science in the first place. And the studies have reflected that ever since. The real issue is inflammation, and reducing cholesterol with medications has so many side effects that it is a bad idea for many other reasons.
As far as taking advice from the NIH, that organization is so riddled with conflicts of interest (google it for yourself) that anything they recommend is suspect. The only ‘consensus’ about cholesterol is just like the Global Warming consensus.
I did substantial research on the issue of the link between cholesterol and CHD about a year ago and am aware of the controversy to which you refer. Not just the NIH, but all the major research hospitals in the cardiology field, support the link. Visit the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins and Massachusetts General websites.
Incidentally, I don't think that the government has any business telling people what they should eat. I am concerned about misinformation, however, and how it can harm people's lives. Telling people that they can consume cholesterol with no concern can do their cardiovascular system great long term damage. It is insidious, since it exploits their natural inclination to maintain their current nutrition/lifestyle.
http://articles.cnn.com/2008-10-16/health/healthmag.cholesterol.inflammation_1_c-reactive-protein-bad-cholesterol-inflammation?_s=PM:HEALTH
The recommendation is still to keep LDL low and HDL high.