2016년 9월 1일 목요일

A high fat diet leads to CHD. Discuss


My conception towards the relationship between a high fat diet and CHD has been quite simple and linear: saturated fat builds up LDL cholesterol in blood, which leads to accumulation of plaque in arteries, ultimately causing CHD. This notion has been taken for granted for decades, regarded as an irrefutable truth, motivating numerous people to practice so-called healthy vegetarian diet. However, a recent study published in numerous prominent scientific journals has opened a new horizon that may debunk the deeply-ingrained idea of high saturated fat diet and CHD.

The result from the study conducted by American Society for Nutrition suggests that: i) high cholesterol/saturated fat is not the primary cause of CHD and ii) consuming vegetable oils, widely known to be ‘heart-healthy’, leads to heart diseases. According to British Medical Journal, trans-unsaturated fats that were considered to be benign to humans actually increase the risk of CHD. Eating margarine, processed cakes and microwave popcorn regularly may increase the risk of death from CHD by 28%. Vegetable oils, which is often groundlessly titled as one of the ‘healthy oils’, contain polyunsaturated fats that also increase the chance of getting CHD. Omega-6 and omega-3, when consumed in excess amount, may cause structural damage to our fat stores and cell membranes.

Replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates has even more significant health impacts: increased risk of CHD and mortality, increased inflammation, impaired glucose tolerance and increased small, high-density LDL particles.

Although these findings are groundbreaking, the only drawback of the studies is that most of these studies are meta-analyses (statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple previously scientific studies), thus showing the association but not causation. Since the findings emerged only recently, researchers are currently going through the process of collecting empirical data (it would be a long-term data because it is dealing with ‘death’ and ‘coronary heart diseases’).


http://www.nutrition-coalition.org/saturated-fats-do-they-cause-heart-disease/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/08/31/saturated-fats-heart-disease.aspx
https://chriskresser.com/new-study-puts-final-nail-in-the-saturated-fat-causes-heart-disease-coffin/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28034-trans-fats-not-saturated-fat-linked-to-heart-disease-risk/

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2014/03/19/dietary-fat-and-heart-disease-study-is-seriously-misleading/

댓글 8개:

  1. WWW: Recent findings well-discussed + a comprehensive list of references
    EBI: Might have been better if a coherent conclusion was drawn which addresses the above statement. (footnotes maybe..?)

    Why does replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates increase the risk of CHD?
    How can you verify the studies you have referenced? (e.g. why are you sure they are accurate and not misleading?)

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    2. Why does replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates increase the risk of CHD?
      First, carbohydrate acts as a medium that 'diverts' the saturated fats into the bloodstream.
      Second, a diet high in sucrose is associated with an elevation of plasma triglyceride concentrations.This increase is due to both increased hepatic secretion and impaired clearance of very-low-density lipoprotein.

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    3. How can you verify the studies you have referenced?
      Well... It's a British "Medical Journal" isn't it?

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  3. WWW: well developed with recent studies, well organised and clear
    EBI:what is the relationship between fat consumption and other causes of CHD.

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  4. WWW: well developed with recent studies, well organised and clear
    EBI:what is the relationship between fat consumption and other causes of CHD.

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  5. Word count: 305
    Originality: 100%

    I really like your opening paragraph; it reads like the revelation of a minor conspiracy. I think you are right to question long-held beliefs about what are considered to be healthy fats and to point to the related research as being mostly meta-analyses, therefore making causal conclusions incredibly challenging.

    Having said that, it would be interesting to know what the relationship is between types of dietary fat and fats found in the blood that are linked to CHD. I recognise that you are constrained by the word limit of this piece of work!

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