However, consumption of industrial trans fats was associated with a 34% increase in all cause mortality, a 28% increased risk of CHD mortality, and a 21% increase in the risk of CHD. Trans fats have no real benefits for the health and increase the risk of heart disease, however, the saturated fats are less clear as to what they do to our bodies.
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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.
The study involved an analysis of results from 50 observational studies which looked into the association between saturated and trans fats with health risks.
Nevertheless the research stuck and since the 1970s most public health organisations have advised people to cut down on fat.
“Diets high in saturated fat are linked to raised cholesterol levels, a risk factor for CHD”.
Doctors tested the the Mediterranean diet in 7,500 people at high risk for heart disease, who were allowed to consume up to 40% of their daily calories from fat.
But when you compare the two, trans fat’s less evil cousins – saturated fats – don’t seem to have the same association.
“This study adds to a wealth of evidence that trans fats found predominantly in processed and fast food are a menace to our health and should be eliminated from the food supply”.
Trans fats are used to improve the taste, texture and shelf life of processed food.
For saturated fat, the team identified between three and 12 prospective cohort studies for each association, which were then pooled.
A review on researches in recent days says that, saturated fats when taken in reasonable amount poses no risk to health in healthier people. Most of our foods nowadays contain trans-fatty acids, which are good only from a commercial perspective.
No, providing you eat it in moderation, like any other kind of nutritious food.
The study led by scientists at McMaster University also found that they have found no possible association between saturated fats and increased risk of death, heart disease, stroke, or Type 2 diabetes. “If there is one message to go away with from these results, it’s that substituting saturated and trans fats with whole grains and vegetable oils is a step in the right direction”, says de Souza.
On trans fats, however, the science is pretty settled: government advice since 2007 has been that they should not exceed 2 per cent of daily energy intake.
Tom Sanders, emeritus professor of nutrition at King’s College London, said that the latest study should come with its own health warning as it largely relied on peoples’ memories of what they ate some time ago, which are notoriously unreliable.
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Findings are strengthened with a study conducted by researchers at several Canadian institutions and experts call for a highly careful review of dietary guidelines for these nutrients.
