Last updated on 8-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study cholesterol intake?
- Cholesterol is a type of fat that plays essential roles in the body. It is needed for cell membrane integrity and hormone production. Cholesterol is transported in the blood by lipoproteins: LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) can accumulate in blood vessels, while HDL (the “good” cholesterol) helps remove excess cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular risk increases when total cholesterol is too high or when the balance between LDL and HDL is unfavourable—the latter being particularly important.
- Cholesterol is mainly found in animal-based foods, such as eggs, organ meats (like liver), shellfish, butter, and full-fat dairy products. The body can produce cholesterol itself, so dietary intake is not strictly necessary.
- As managing cholesterol through diet and lifestyle is crucial for cardiovascular health, the Superior Health Council recommends to limit intake of dietary cholesterol to less than 300 mg/day. A healthy LDL/HDL-cholesterol balance can especially be achieved by reducing saturated fat intake and replacing it with unsaturated fats, for example by choosing lean low-fat products and replacing solid fats with soft margarine, liquid cooking fats, or oils.
How do we study it?
- Habitual intake of cholesterol was analysed using the SPADE® program. The detailed methodology can be found here.
- Habitual cholesterol intake is expressed in milligrams per day.
KEY RESULTS
The mean cholesterol intake in the overall population is 217 mg/day
Men have a higher cholesterol intake than women
The cholesterol intake did not change between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023
Meat, meat products and substitutes are the main contributors to cholesterol intake
By age and sex
Mean cholesterol intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The mean cholesterol intake in the overall population is 217 mg/day.
- Overall, men have a higher cholesterol intake (242 mg/day) than women (193 mg/day). This difference is observed in adolescents aged 10 – 17 years and adults aged 18 years and more, but not in children aged 3 – 9 years, where boys and girls have a comparable intake.
- Adults aged 18 – 64 years have the highest cholesterol intake (225 mg/day for men and women together), followed by adults aged 65 years and above (218 mg/day) and adolescents (211 mg/day), and the lowest intake is observed in children (175 mg/day).
By educational level
Mean cholesterol intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- Individuals with a high level of education have a lower mean cholesterol intake (206 mg/day) compared to individuals with a low level of education (226 mg/day).
By region
Mean cholesterol intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- There is no difference in mean cholesterol intake between individuals from Flanders and Wallonia.
By year
Mean cholesterol intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The mean cholesterol intake in 2014-2015 is comparable with the intake in 2022-2023 in the population aged 3 – 64 years.
Contribution of foods to cholesterol intake
Contribution of foods to cholesterol intake, in the total population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Meat, meat products and substitutes are the main contributors to cholesterol intake (39%). The second important contributor of cholesterol intake are dairy products and substitutes (21%). They are followed by eggs and egg products (11%), cakes and sweet biscuits (9%) and fish and shellfish (6%).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Macronutrients: Cholesterol, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/fats/cholesterol