Saturated fats and cardiovascular disease risk: A review

Abstract

Saturated fats have been in the line of fire for more than three decades. The major mistake in understanding fats was to equate all saturated fatty acids as one. The oversimplification of the relationship of saturated fats with cardiovascular disease (CVD) led to unwarranted removal of some valuable fats from our diets. Recently, the relationship of dietary saturated fats and that of individual saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to CVD risk has been reevaluated. All saturated fats are not equal and these fats are not as bad as they are made out to be. Thus, not all SFAs in natural fats are atherogenic (formation of fatty deposits in arteries). Butter, clarified butter (desi ghee), coconut oil, and palm oil as a part of a healthy diet are not contraindicated. The review of literature clearly suggests a relook at saturated fats with respect to atherogenicity and over health.

Keywords

• Atherosclerosis
• coconut oil
• conjugated linolenic acid
• desi ghee
• hydrogenated fats
• linoleic/alpha linoleic acid ratio
• lipid hypothesis
• palm oil
• saturated fats
• trans-fatty acids