Researchers at KG Jebsen center for diabetes research have reported in a recent study that saturated fat may not be as unhealthy as thought earlier.
Norwegian Diet Intervention Study
For the Norwegian diet intervention study (FATFUNC), 38 men with abdominal obesity were made to follow a diet rich in either fat or carbohydrate, where about half the proportion of fat was saturated. The researchers then analyzed the fat mass in the heart, liver and abdominal cavity alongside factors that contribute to heart diseases.
Ottar Nygård, a cardiologist who took part in the study, said that consuming diet rich in saturated or total fat did not elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the researcher also noted that while on very high fat diet, the participants showed improvements in various key cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure, insulin, ectopic fat storage, blood sugar and blood lipids.
As far as diet patterns are concerned, the participants in both the groups consumed the same amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and proteins that account to similar energy levels while the only difference was the quantity of food and sugar.
Saturated Fat Is Healthy
Vivian Veum, a Ph.D. candidate, said that the study was aimed at examining the effect of total and saturated fat in healthy diet rich in fresh, nutritious, lowly processed foods that include vegetables and rice. Furthermore, the fat included in the diet was cream, butter and cold-pressed oils.
While the diet intake was within normal range among all the participants, those who increased their energy intake were also found to show a decreased risk of diseases and reduced storage of fat.
Johnny Laupsa-Borge, another Ph.D. candidate, noted that the concept of healthy diet doesn't lie in the quantity of fat or carbohydrate taken but the quality of food consumed.
Saturated Fat Increases Blood HDL
The researchers further added that saturated fat doesn't promote cardiovascular diseases by increasing the levels of LDL cholesterol in blood; on the contrary, it increases the levels of HDL cholesterol, which is considered good for the body.
It is therefore clear that healthy people might be able to tolerate foods rich in saturated fat as long as the quantity of energy is moderate and the quality of fat is good, noted Nygård.
"The alleged health risks of eating good-quality fats have been greatly exaggerated," noted Simon Nitter Dankel, in a press release.
However, Dankel noted that it would be good to encourage people to reduce the intake of foods made of processed flour and food stuffed with added sugar and highly processed fats.
The study was published online in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Nov. 30.
