And then again: http://time.com/4291505/when-vegetable-oil-isnt-as-healthy-a... , links e.g. to http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i1246 which has the conclusion quoted below, which is in line with what ggp claimed about whether cholesterol is the cause or just a symptom.

""" Available evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes. Findings from the Minnesota Coronary Experiment add to growing evidence that incomplete publication has contributed to overestimation of the benefits of replacing saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid. """