Saturated fat Study (1997) - An Example of Junk Science

Low Carbohydrate Nutrition: An Example of Junk Science

Extract:

An Example of Junk Science

By Mary Enig Phd


While the establishment is finally recognizing the dangers of trans fatty acids, conventional dietary gurus continue to warn the public about the alleged dangers of saturated fats.

In this article, we will look at a study published in 1997 in the American Journal of Cardiology (79:350-354) used to justify avoidance of red meat and butterfat, the two main sources of saturated fatty acids in the Western diet.

Arthur Agatston, author of the best-selling South Beach Diet refers to this research when he states:

"The major problem I have with the Atkins Diet is the liberal intake of saturated fats. There is evidence now that immediately following a meal of saturated fats, there is dysfunction in the arteries, including those that supply the heart muscle with blood. As a result, the lining of the arteries (the endothelium) is predisposed to constriction and clotting. Imagine: Under the right (or rather, wrong) circumstances, eating a meal that’s high in saturated fat can trigger a heart attack! In addition, after a high-fat meal certain elements in the blood called remnant particles, persist for longer than is healthy. These particles contribute to the buildup of plaque in the vessel wall."

Agatston recommends consuming polyunsaturated and monounsaturated vegetable oils, including tub spreads, rather than animal fats like butter.

In the study, carried out by Robert A. Vogel and his team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, ten volunteers were tested for "endothelial function" by measuring.....[  ].

But was it saturated fat that caused the decline in endothelial function?

The high-fat meal consisted of an egg McMuffin, sausage McMuffin, two hash brown patties and a noncaffeinated beverage. The lowfat meal consisted of Frosted Flakes, skimmed milk and orange juice. According to the authors, the high fat meal contained 50 grams of fat, of which 14 were saturated fat. So only 28 percent of the fat in the high-fat meal was saturated. The rest was a combination of trans fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, any one of which, or all together are the likely culprits in the decline in endothelial function.

But Agatston (along with the study authors) blames the adverse effects on saturated fats!