Trans Fats Raise Bad Cholesterol

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

April 19, 2004 -- Trans fats aren't listed on nutrition labels. But trans fats are in virtually all packaged foods -- and now there's evidence showing they cause can raise bad cholesterol levels.

There's already proof that trans fats cause heart disease but a new study involving pigs shows that two weeks on a high trans-fat diet can also significantly increase cholesterol, reports researcher Kyle K. Henderson, PhD, with the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is presenting his evidence at the Experimental Biology annual meeting held this week in Washington.

His evidence joins other studies showing that trans fat increases "bad" LDL cholesterol, possibly more than saturated fat. Trans fat also appears to reduce "good" HDL cholesterol, which saturated fat doesn't do. Trans fat also increases blood levels of two more artery cloggers -- triglycerides and lipoprotein(a). All of these elements work together to clog arteries and cause heart disease. In this newest study, four adult pigs were placed on three different high-fat diets. For two 14-day periods, the pigs consumed either a high trans-fat diet or a low trans-fat diet.

In the low trans-fat diet, coconut oil (a saturated fat) supplemented the pigs' usual diet. In the high trans-fat diet, hydrogenated soybean oil (a trans fat) supplemented the pigs' usual diet.

Pigs eating a high trans-fat diet had higher triglyceride and total cholesterol levels; they also had significantly lower HDL "good" cholesterol levels, reports Henderson. With increasing information about trans fats, the FDA is now requiring manufacturers to label foods for trans fats by 2006.

SOURCES: Henderson, K. Study, presented at the annual meeting, Experimental Biology 2004, Washington, April 17-21, 2003. WebMD Medical News: "Stealth Fat Lurks in Favorite Foods."

 

What every consumer should know about trans-fats
FDA Fact Sheet

What Every Consumer Should Know About Trans Fatty Acids
July 9, 2003


Q: What ARE trans fatty acids?
A: Trans fatty acids (or “trans fat”) are fats found in foods such as vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, salad dressings, and many processed foods.

Q: Why Should I Care About Trans fat?
A: It’s important to know about trans fat because there is a direct, proven relationship between diets high in trans fat content and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and, therefore, an increased risk of coronary heart disease – a leading cause of death in the US.

Q: Aren’t ALL Fats Bad?
A: No. There are “good” fats and “bad” ones, just like there’s good and bad blood cholesterol. Saturated fats and trans fat have bad effects on cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and corn oil) have good effects.

Q: How much trans fat is too much?
A: There is research currently underway to determine this. However, it is true and accurate to say that the less saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol consumed the better. Trans fat while pervasive in many of the foods we eat is not “essential” to any healthy diet.

Q: How can consumers know if a product contains trans fat if it’s not identified on the nutrition label?
A: Consumers can know if a food contains trans fat by looking at the ingredient list on the food label. If the ingredient list includes the words “shortening,” “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil,” the food contains trans fat. Because ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance, smaller amounts are present when the ingredient is close to the end of the list.

Q: Do restaurants have to list the fat content of their foods?
A: No. But it’s a good tip to always ask which fats are being used to prepare the food you order.

Q: Why is it important to read labels?
A: Labels provide valuable information. An informed consumer is able to make better, healthier choices. So better labels make for smarter, healthier consumers.

Source: US Food and Drug Administration