X-Message-Number: 32428
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:50:33 -0800 (PST)
From: 
Subject: no association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease

[For years the scientific consensus was that saturated fats increased
CVD risk. This consensus was derived from clinical trials in rodents. The
lessons of this story are that humans are not rodents, and that human
scientists are prone to reaching a false consensus. If you have a
skeptical mind, treasure it. It may the only thing that ultimately helps
you beat the actuary's tables.]

Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Mar;91(3):535-46. Epub 2010 Jan 13.

Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of 
saturated fat with cardiovascular disease.
Siri-Tarino PW, Sun Q, Hu FB, Krauss RM.

Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute Oakland CA Harvard School of 
Public Health Boston MA.

BACKGROUND: A reduction in dietary saturated fat has generally been thought to 
improve cardiovascular health. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this meta-analysis 
was to summarize the evidence related to the association of dietary saturated 
fat with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and cardiovascular 
disease (CVD; CHD inclusive of stroke) in prospective epidemiologic studies. 
DESIGN: Twenty-one studies identified by searching MEDLINE and EMBASE databases 
and secondary referencing qualified for inclusion in this study. A 
random-effects model was used to derive composite relative risk estimates for 
CHD, stroke, and CVD. RESULTS: During 5-23 y of follow-up of 347,747 subjects, 
11,006 developed CHD or stroke. Intake of saturated fat was not associated with 
an increased risk of CHD, stroke, or CVD. The pooled relative risk estimates 
that compared extreme quantiles of saturated fat intake were 1.07 (95% CI: 0.96,
1.19; P = 0.22) for CHD, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.05; P = 0.11) for stroke, and 
1.00 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.11; P = 0.95) for CVD. Consideration of age, sex, and 
study quality did not change the results. CONCLUSIONS: A meta-analysis of 
prospective epidemiologic studies showed that there is no significant evidence 
for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk 
of CHD or CVD. More data are needed to elucidate whether CVD risks are likely to
be influenced by the specific nutrients used to replace saturated fat.
PMID: 20071648 [PubMed - in process]

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