Discussion about fats reignited

Jens Richter is editor-in-chief at Since July 2020, the doctor and journalist has also been responsible as COO for business operations and the strategic development of

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Do Certain Fats Really Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease? And can omega-3 fatty acids protect against this? Scientists are questioning the current recommendations. Your argument: the data of more than 600,000 people.

Animal fats have long been considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially the so-called omega-3 fats, are advertised as effective prevention against the life-threatening narrowing of the coronary arteries? An international research group led by the University of Cambridge (England) wanted to know whether this is really the case and started the largest study to date on this topic. Data from a total of 72 studies with participants from 18 nations were included in their analysis.

This included research in which patients with arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease provided information about their diet (observational studies) as well as research in which the effects of certain fatty acids on the vascular system were tested (so-called clinical studies).

Good and bad no longer count

The analyzes turn many of the current recommendations on their head. "These are interesting results that should lead to completely new research approaches. They also give reason to reassess the current nutritional guidelines with great care," summarizes the head of the study, Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, together. For example, on the basis of observational studies, it could not be proven at all that the saturated fatty acids in food and blood, which are often viewed as harmful, actually increased the risk of coronary artery disease.

And vice versa: If the scientists evaluated the clinical tests with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, they could not prove any improved protection against diseases of the coronary arteries. It is precisely these fats, which occur primarily in plants and fish, but have often been praised in the past as real miracle weapons against hardening of the arteries.

Heart protection capsules with no effect

General recommendations against saturated and for unsaturated, especially omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, can no longer be adhered to, the scientists found. If you really want to estimate the benefit or risk of the different fat compositions, you have to take a closer look at the individual fats. At the same time, the researchers are questioning the value of dietary supplements - advertised in the form of "fish oil" and "omega-3 capsules" as heart protection and are now available in almost every supermarket. According to the researchers, there is no convincing evidence for this effect after the analysis of all clinical tests.

However, the two omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid could protect against CHD and heart attacks. Salmon and Atlantic herring are particularly rich in these two substances. Arachidonic acid (omega 6, contained in animal fats) could also be beneficial. However, since it is also involved in inflammatory reactions in the body, it is considered unfavorable, for example, in rheumatism or inflammatory skin or intestinal diseases.

The saturated fatty acids, on the other hand, performed better than expected in the evaluations of the international research group. Although they found that palmitic and stearic acid had a "weak positive connection" to cardiovascular diseases, margaric acid had the opposite effect: it lowered the risk of coronary heart disease.

No recommendation allowed yet

The sometimes surprising results showed that a final assessment of dietary fats is not yet possible, says Professor Jeremy Parson, co-director of the British Heart Foundation and one of the study's sponsors. "It just can't be said yet that a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids will lower the risk of coronary artery disease. That will require more large clinical studies."

Study leader Chowdhury also believes that research in this field must be pushed ahead quickly: "With more than 17 million deaths each year, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and serious physical damage worldwide. It is therefore crucial to formulate guidelines for prevention. which are scientifically proven as well as possible. "

Tags:  prevention tcm travel medicine