top of page
< Back

Saturated fat does not clog the arteries: coronary heart disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, the risk of which can be effectively reduced from healthy lifestyle interventions

Malhotra, Aseem; Redberg, Rita F.; Meier, Pascal

Date Published:

Publication:

DOI:

URL:

PMID:

Extra Links:

August 1, 2017

10.1136/bjsports-2016-097285

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine Section: Editorial PMID: 28442474

Abstract:

Coronary artery disease pathogenesis and treatment urgently requires a paradigm shift. Despite popular belief among doctors and the public, the conceptual model of dietary saturated fat clogging a pipe is just plain wrong. A landmark systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies showed no association between saturated fat consumption and (1) all-cause mortality, (2) coronary heart disease (CHD), (3) CHD mortality, (4) ischaemic stroke or (5) type 2 diabetes in healthy adults.1 Similarly in the secondary prevention of CHD there is no benefit from reduced fat, including saturated fat, on myocardial infarction, cardiovascular or all-cause mortality.2 It is instructive to note that in an angiographic study of postmenopausal women with CHD, greater intake of saturated fat was associated with less progression of atherosclerosis whereas carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fat intake were associated with greater progression.3 The inflammatory processes that contribute to cholesterol deposition within the artery wall and subsequent plaque formation (atherosclerosis), more closely resembles a ‘pimple’ (figure 1). Most cardiac events occur at sites with

Automatic Tags

inflammation; exercise; coronary heart disease; saturated fat

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Reddit's r/Ketoscience
bottom of page