Researchers in Canada have gained new insights into the how different types of trans fats impact health. Their findings add to new knowledge on a special ‘family’ of natural trans fats that are produced by animals, such as sheep, goats, and cattle, and found in the milk and meat from these animals.
According to the researchers, these natural ruminant trans fats are different to industrial trans fats as they are not harmful and may potentially improve health.
Dr. Spencer Proctor, Director of the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory at the University of Alberta in Canada, explained:
“We are learning there is a very important public health message to convey about ruminant natural trans fats and how these are different from the industrial trans fats that have been targeted as harmful to health.
The research indicates that consuming these natural trans fats as part of a balanced diet is not a health concern. On the contrary, there is increasing evidence these are ‘good fats’ and could be fundamentally health-enhancing. They should not be an unintended target of the bid to rid the diet of trans fats.”
To date, the research on natural trans fats has been based on a strong foundation of animal model studies and an increasing number of clinical trials.
Dr. Jean-Michel Chardigny, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in France said:
“Our knowledge of natural trans fats is relatively recent and will we continue to learn more about the human health implications. But clearly we know they are different from industrial trans fats and should not be painted with the same brush.”
Chardigny examined data from 13 clinical trials that analyzed the effect of natural trans fats on cardiovascular health risk factors. According to Chardigny, several studies confirmed the harmful effects of industrial trans fats, but research to date on natural trans fats has revealed no such effects.
Chardigny explained: “There is no association between natural trans fats intake and cholesterol-dependent cardiovascular risk factors.”
According to Dr. Marianne Uhre Jakobsen, Associate Professor, Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark “The findings indicate that intake of natural trans fats is not associated with coronary heart disease within the range of intake in the general population.”
The researchers state that health recommendations and food labels need to clearly differentiate between industrial and natural trans fats.
These scientists and their colleagues are exploring approaches for further international collaboration among researchers as well as health and food regulatory authorities in order to make progress on this front.
Proctor explained:
“We want to help the public better understand the very different health implications of the two different categories of trans fats, including through the nutrition information they get on food labels. We’re confident we can achieve that be continuing to work together.”
Findings from the study were presented at the the 10th Congress for the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids & Lipids (ISSFAL).
Written by Grace Rattue