Saturated fat is bad for your heart health, right? That may not be the case. Scientists have found no evidence to support the guidelines that say people should restrict saturated fat consumption in order to lower the risk of heart disease.
In the past, researchers have recommended that men and women replace saturated fats, such as those found in butter and dairy foods, in favor of unsaturated fats, which are found in margarine and sunflower oil, according to Medical News Today. The American Heart Association also recommends that people eat polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in salmon, trout and herring, or monosaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, canola oil and peanut butter, according to CNN.
The researchers analyzed data from 27 randomized controlled trials of fatty acid supplementation. They also analyzed 32 observational studies. This allowed them to assess whether saturated fats could indeed increase the risk of heart disease in comparison to unsaturated fats.
"The pattern of this analysis did not yield clearly supportive evidence for cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of saturated fats," said Rajiv Chowdhury, one of the researchers, in an interview with MedPage Today. "Nutritional guidelines on fatty acids and cardiovascular guidelines may require reappraisal to reflect the current evidence."
In other words, taking omega-3 supplements won't necessarily improve heart health-at least not significantly. In addition, the researchers found no link between a person's total saturated fatty acid intake and their coronary risk, according to CNN.
That said, the researchers are quick to note that patients shouldn't jump to conclusions. Eating a healthy diet that includes vegetables and fish is still a crucial aspect of lower your risk of heart disease. In addition, other researchers, including Duffy MacKay, senior vice president for scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, point out that many more studies uphold the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, according to CNN.
The AHA plan to hold a national meeting this week to discuss the new study.
