Re: trans fatty acids and heart disease

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on March 30, 1999 at 09:06:37:

In Reply to: trans fatty acids and heart disease  posted by chris on March 29, 1999 at 17:31:15:






I have read that trans fatty acids are worse for your heart than saturated fats. Is this true?  I notice that even products that have 0 % saturated fat, often have what is listed as "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil" (either soybean or whatever). Would this be a "trans fatty acid?"  What is their role in heart disease? It appears that they are hard to avoid. Thank you.  




Dear Chris,
This is a somewhat controversial subject but here are a few guiding principles concerning fat and heart disease.  1) Less fat is better.  2) Vegetable fats are better than animal fats. 3) Saturated fats raise the cholesterol. 4) monounsaturated fats (i.e. olive and canola oil)  may have some benefit although their consumption is still high in calories. 5) Trans-Fatty Acids, which are fats that have been straightened out so their are solid at room temperature, raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol.  Examples of food containing trans-fatty acids are stick margarine, cookies, biscuits and cakes.
Finally everyone over the age of 25 should have their cholesterol screened and treated with diet and medication as needed.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.