Trans-fatty acids and cardiovascular risk: does origin matter?

ABSTRACT

Several studies have aimed to unravel the contribution of different types of dietary fatty acids to human health and disease. Investigations have consistently shown that high consumption of industrially produced trans-fatty acids from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils is harmful to human health, in particular cardiovascular health. Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that partially hydrogenated oils are no longer ‘generally recognized as safe’, and trans-fatty acids are not permitted in the U.S. food supply. On the other hand, recent studies analyzing the association between circulating trans-fatty acids and disease have revealed that some ruminant-specific trans-fatty acids are associated with a reduction in incidence of disease. In this special report, we highlight recent findings and point out perspectives for future studies on this topic.

KEYWORDS:

• Trans-fat
• artificial trans-fatty acids
• industrially produced trans-fatty acids
• ruminant trans-fatty acids
• coronary heart disease
• diabetes

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung.