Study raises questions about dietary fats and heart disease guidance

13 comments

anonymous

8 Feb 2013

This comment was deleted.

DakCB-UK

8 Feb 2013

Calls into question some American guidance. omega-6 may not be the Messiah.

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Ronion

8 Feb 2013

There is no Messiah. Omega 3s and Omega 6s just have to be in the correct ratio to each other.

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Aliwally

8 Feb 2013

Thank you for posting. To me the most important thing about this research is that it was based on "missing data" from a project carried out from 1966-1973.
I see that the BMJ is pressing for an "open data" campaign as they say that a lot of research from trials is never published.
I found the last line a bit chilling...
" This means that doctors cannot be certain that the drugs that they are prescribing daily are properly evaluated for safety and efficacy."

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tinad HEART UK

8 Feb 2013

HEART UK acknowledges the publication of this paper in the BMJ that questions the substitution of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid, an omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acid.

This is an old study (1966-1973), where the data has been re-interpreted. It focused on one source of linoleic acid (safflower oil) which is rarely used in the UK and the study was in middle aged men who had already had one heart attack. Participants in the study were advised to increase their intake of omega 6 linoleic acid above the levels normally recommended in the UK.

For a fuller review of the science please see NHS Choices Online which puts the research in context:

www.nhs.uk/news/2013/Februa...

Visit our website at www.heartuk.org.uk
Helpline: 08454505988

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Concerned

8 Feb 2013

How does the omega-6 differ from that found in the soya products you advocate, please?

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tinad HEART UK

12 Feb 2013

Hi concerned,

If you want a comparison of oils, soya oil contains 54% linoleic acid and safflower contains 78%. In the UCLP we promote foods rich in soya protein, as it is the protein which has the cholesterol lowering effect. We also encourage a diet low in saturated fat with some fat replaced with unsaturated fats sources, one of which is soya but could easily be sunflower, walnut or rapeseed etc.

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Bargainhunter

8 Feb 2013

margarine is very bad for anyone no matter what they add to it it is the hydrogenation process that damages us.

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DakCB-UK

12 Feb 2013

Not all margarines are the same. Take care what you buy.

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MikePollard

8 Feb 2013

Dr. Briffa's take:

www.drbriffa.com/2013/02/06...

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Aliwally

9 Feb 2013

Yes, Dr Briffa is having a field day on this one! I still think the most important issue is the missing data not the margarine,
Even the BMJ is concerned.

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Concerned

10 Feb 2013

I hope they are; it's yet another incidence of the evidence that underpins some treatment (including healthy eating advice) is flawed.

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Aliwally

10 Feb 2013

I was amused to see that the margarine was called Miracle (it didn't work many). The comments on Dr Briffas blog say that it also probably contained a lot of trans fats as well.

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MikePollard

13 Feb 2013

Colpo goes into a little more detail:

anthonycolpo.com/research-u...

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