Avoiding saturated fats increases the likelihood of premature death

When people consume too little saturated fat, life expectancy is jeopardized
Many people look for a low-fat diet to stay as lean and healthy as possible. There are now various forms of nutrition, which, for example, completely dispense with meat or carbohydrates. Researchers have now found that eliminating saturated fats from diets increases mortality rates by up to 13 percent.

McMaster University researchers in Canada found in their study that avoiding the consumption of saturated fats in diets results in people being more likely to die prematurely. The experts published the results of their study in the journal "The Lancet".

Some foods, such as olive oil, contain healthy, unsaturated fats. However, in saturated fats many people think that they are generally unhealthy for the body. However, if we consume too little saturated fat, the probability of dying prematurely increases. (Photo: volff - fotolia)

Researchers are studying more than 135,000 subjects
For their study, the physicians analyzed the data of more than 135,000 people. They found that reducing saturated fat intake to less than three percent of total calories leads to an increased mortality rate of 13 percent. Increased intake of fats of all kinds reduced the overall risk of death by 23 percent, the risk of stroke by 18 percent, and non-cardiac mortality by 30 percent, the experts explain.

How does a diet rich in carbohydrates affect you??
A diet rich in carbohydrates (about 77 percent of ingested calories) resulted in a 28 percent greater risk of premature death, although such a diet did not affect the rate of heart attacks and strokes, the researchers add.

Subjects were between 35 and 70 years old
The scientists compared the subjects with the highest intake of fats and carbohydrates to low-intake participants over a period of more than seven years. The study participants were between 35 and 70 years old, say the experts. Subjects came from 18 low, middle and high income countries.

Where do people consume most carbohydrates and fats??
The average global diet consists of about 61.2 percent carbohydrates and 23.5 percent fats (including 8 percent saturated fats) and 15, 2 percent protein, the scientists explain. Carbohydrate intake was highest in countries such as China, South Asia and Africa. In contrast, humans have the most fat-containing diet in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the experts add.

In many countries, a low-fat diet is promoted
The current focus on promoting a low-fat diet ignores the fact that most people in low- and middle-income countries consume a lot of carbohydrates, which is associated with negative health consequences, explains author Dr. med. Mahshid Dehghan from McMaster University.

Guidelines should be revised in some countries
In low and middle income countries, where energy from food is sometimes over 65 percent carbohydrates, the guidelines should focus their attention on reducing carbohydrate intake, rather than promoting a reduction in fats intake. Saturated fats, which are typically present in animal products such as milk, cheese and meat, have hitherto generally been considered unhealthy and detrimental to the heart and arteries.

Which health problems occurred during the study??
During the study, a total of 5,796 participants died and 1,649 deaths were caused by cardiac and arterial diseases, the researchers explain. The physicians recorded a total of 2,143 heart attacks and 2,234 strokes. (As)