Study finds saturated fat increases good cholesterol and energy
Mirmiran P, Ramezankhani A, Azizi F. Combined
effects of saturated fat and cholesterol intakes on
serum lipids: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.
Nutrition. 2009 Jan 2. [Published online ahead of print]
Obesity Research Center, Research Institute of
Endocrine Sciences, Shaheed Beheshti University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated
the combined effect of saturated fat and cholesterol
intake on serum lipids among Tehranian adults.
METHODS: In 443 subjects >/=18
y, dietary intake was assessed. Height and weight were
measured and body mass index was calculated. Serum
cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol levels were calculated. Cholesterol intakes
>/=300 mg/d and saturated fat intakes >/=7% of
total energy were defined as high intakes. Individuals
were categorized into four groups based on cholesterol
and saturated fat intakes.
RESULTS: Subjects' mean age was
40.1 +/- 14.6 y; those in whom cholesterol and
saturated fat intake was normal had significantly less
energy and fat intake than those with high cholesterol
and saturated fat intakes (P < 0.01). Saturated fat
intake had a significant effect on serum total and
HDL-C levels. Subjects with a normal saturated fat
intake had significantly less serum total and HDL-C
than those who had high saturated fat intake (P <
0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Adjusting for age,
sex, and body mass index, the main effect of
cholesterol intake on HDL-C was significant (P = 0.05).
Mean serum HDL-C was lower in subjects who had normal
cholesterol intake than in those with high cholesterol
intake.
CONCLUSION: These results show that
cholesterol and saturated fat intakes have no combined
effect on serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
level, whereas cholesterol intake per se affects serum
HDL-C level.
COMMENT: As the UK Food Standards Agency and the self-styled
Fat Panel have mounted an aggressive campaign to stop us eating saturated fats, yet another study shows that eating such a diet is actually beneficial.
Not that it will influence the Fatheads who populated both organisations.
The problem
here is that there are hundreds of studies on saturated
fat and cholesterol levels. I can find many,
like the one above to support my argument; they can
probably find as many to support
theirs.
But no matter
how many I find, I will never convince them. Nothing
can. They will not, indeed, cannot, change their
minds.
Last updated 31
March 2009
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