Trans fatty acids - A risk factor for cardiovascular disease

Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Trans fatty acids (TFA) are produced either by hydrogenation of unsaturated oils or by biohydrogenation in the stomach of ruminant animals. Vanaspati ghee and margarine have high contents of TFA. A number of studies have shown an association of TFA consumption and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This increased risk is because TFA increase the ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization have come up with the recommendation that the contents of TFA in human dietary fat should be reduced to less than 4%. There is high prevalence of CVD in Pakistan. High consumption of vanaspati ghee which contains 14.2-34.3% of TFA could be one of the factors for this increased burden of CVD in Pakistan. Consumption of dietary fat low in TFA would be helpful in reducing the risk of CVD in South Asia. Denmark by banning the sale of food items with TFA has brought down the number of deaths due to coronary heart disease by nearly 50% over a period of 20 years. Public awareness about the adverse effects of TFA on human health would be extremely important. Media can play a very effective role in educating the masses and advocating the policy for the sale of only low TFA food items.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)194-197
Number of pages4
JournalPakistan Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Dietary fats
  • South Asia
  • Trans fatty acid

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