Study (2004) - paradox how saturated fat prevents coronary artery disease

Saturated fat prevents coronary artery disease? An American paradox

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 5, 1102-1103, November 2004
© 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition

EDITORIAL

Saturated fat prevents coronary artery disease? An American paradox^1,2

Robert H Knopp and Barbara M Retzlaff

¹ From the Northwest Lipid Research Clinic, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

In conclusion, the hypothesis-generating report of Mozaffarian et al draws attention to the different effects of diet on lipoprotein physiology and cardiovascular disease risk. These effects include the paradox that a high-fat, high–saturated fat diet is associated with diminished coronary artery disease progression in women with the metabolic syndrome, a condition that is epidemic in the United States. This paradox presents a challenge to differentiate the effects of dietary fat on lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease risk in men and women, in the different lipid disorders, and in the metabolic syndrome.