Jury Still Out on Whether Saturated Fat Is Bad for You, Researchers Say
Jury Still Out on Whether Saturated Fat Is Bad for You, Researchers Say
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A new review suggests that saturated fats, like those found in many dairy products and meat, may not be the big contributors to heart disease or early death that many think they are.
However, the Canadian researchers who did the review did find a clear link between heart troubles and trans fats, which are found in highly processed foods such as snacks, margarine and baked goods.
"Not all the studies we looked at reached the same conclusion, but generally what we found is that the association between a higher consumption of trans fats and a higher risk for heart disease and [early] death was very consistent," said study author Russell de Souza.
"And because we found no evidence that trans fat offers any health benefit, removing it from the foods we eat is the right idea," added de Souza, a registered dietician and an assistant professor of clinical epidemiology & biostatistics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
"On the other hand, the association between consuming saturated fat and a higher risk for similar health issues was variable and unclear," he added. "But we want to be careful. We're not saying that we're confident that saturated fat is truly benign."
De Souza and his colleagues reported their findings in the Aug. 11 issue of the BMJ.
The study authors said that current dietary guidelines advocate limiting saturated fat consumption to less than 10 percent of total caloric intake, and limiting trans fats to less than 1 percent of one's diet.
The team's saturated fat analysis involved 41 studies conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Canada, China, Greece and Australia. A separate international investigation was also included in the review.
Their look at trans fat focused on 20 studies conducted in the United States, Finland, China and the Netherlands.
In the end, the team unearthed no clear evidence highlighting an association between higher quantities of saturated fat and a higher risk for dying from any cause.
Similarly, no link was found between saturated fat and a higher risk for stroke, type 2 diabetes, and/or heart disease.
Jury Still Out on Whether Saturated Fat Is Bad
But clear link seen between trans fats and heart troubles, early death
However, the Canadian researchers who did the review did find a clear link between heart troubles and trans fats, which are found in highly processed foods such as snacks, margarine and baked goods.
"Not all the studies we looked at reached the same conclusion, but generally what we found is that the association between a higher consumption of trans fats and a higher risk for heart disease and [early] death was very consistent," said study author Russell de Souza.
"And because we found no evidence that trans fat offers any health benefit, removing it from the foods we eat is the right idea," added de Souza, a registered dietician and an assistant professor of clinical epidemiology & biostatistics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
"On the other hand, the association between consuming saturated fat and a higher risk for similar health issues was variable and unclear," he added. "But we want to be careful. We're not saying that we're confident that saturated fat is truly benign."
De Souza and his colleagues reported their findings in the Aug. 11 issue of the BMJ.
The study authors said that current dietary guidelines advocate limiting saturated fat consumption to less than 10 percent of total caloric intake, and limiting trans fats to less than 1 percent of one's diet.
The team's saturated fat analysis involved 41 studies conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Canada, China, Greece and Australia. A separate international investigation was also included in the review.
Their look at trans fat focused on 20 studies conducted in the United States, Finland, China and the Netherlands.
In the end, the team unearthed no clear evidence highlighting an association between higher quantities of saturated fat and a higher risk for dying from any cause.
Similarly, no link was found between saturated fat and a higher risk for stroke, type 2 diabetes, and/or heart disease.
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