AHA: Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats for Lowering CVD Risk

Consuming higher amounts of unsaturated fats and lowering intake of saturated fats reduces incidence rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new recommendations from the American Heart Association.

The writing committee analyzed the results of randomized controlled trials that focused on replacing participants’ intake of dietary saturated fat with polyunsaturated vegetable oil, which found that CVD was lowered by about 30%, an effect similar to statin use.
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Likewise, prospective observational studies in a number of populations indicated that lower intake of saturated fat, along with higher intake of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, is related to lower rates of CVD and of other major causes of death.

Then the researchers examined the replacement of saturated fat with mostly refined carbohydrates and sugars in several studies and found that it was not associated with lower rates of CVD, nor did it reduce CVD in clinical trials. Additionally, the researchers found that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol—a characteristic cause of atherosclerosis—thus demonstrating that biological evidence is indeed linked to incidence of CVD in populations and in clinical trials.

Ultimately, the researchers observed that lowering intake of saturated fat and replacing it with unsaturated fats, especially polyunsaturated fats, very likely reduces incidence of CVD.

“This recommended shift from saturated to unsaturated fats should occur simultaneously in an overall healthful dietary pattern such as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) or the Mediterranean diet as emphasized by the 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology lifestyle guidelines and the 2015 to 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Sacks FM, Lichtenstein AH, Wu JHY, et al; American Heart Association. Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: a presidential advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135(24). doi:0.1161/CIR.0000000000000510.