Statistics confirmed the harm of trans fats

Limiting trans fats has reduced the number of heart attacks and strokes

Anna Stavina, XX2 century

In some counties of New York State, the use of trans fats in cafes and restaurants has been legally restricted. It soon turned out that the number of hospitalizations for heart attacks and strokes in these areas decreased compared to those districts in which restrictions were not introduced. This is reported in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology (Brandt et al., Hospital Admissions for Myocardial Infarction and Stroke Before and After the Trans-Fatty Acid Restrictions in New York).

Consumption of trans fats is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Trans Fatty acids usually end up on the table as part of partially hydrogenated oils, which are added to pastries, yeast bread, fried foods, chips, crackers and margarine. The harm from eating trans fats has led to the fact that many have begun to advocate minimizing their use or completely abandoning it. New York became the first major US city to restrict the use of trans fats. This happened in July 2007. Similar restrictions have been introduced in some counties of New York State. The Food and Drug Administration plans to take similar measures on a federal scale in 2018, but the impact of these restrictions on public health is not yet fully understood.

Dr. Eric Brandt (Eric Brandt) from Yale University (Yale University) together with colleagues conducted a study to assess the health status of residents of counties in which the use of trans fats was limited. For comparison, scientists used data on districts where restrictions were not introduced. The study covered the period from 2002 to 2013. The researchers received the information from the Joint Planning and Research System (Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System) The New York State Department of Health (NYS Department of Health), also used the results of the census. The study looked at residents of the state who were hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke.

In 2006, a year before the restriction was introduced, 8.4 million adults lived in cities and counties where restrictions on the use of trans fats were introduced. In cities and districts without such restrictions, the adult population was 3.3 million people. Three years or more after the introduction of new rules for the use of trans fats in public catering in the regions of the first category, the number of heart attacks and strokes decreased to a greater extent than in the regions of the second. Thus, the difference in the reduction in the number of heart attacks and strokes in the aggregate was 6.2%, and heart attacks – 7.8%, reaching statistically significant values. The difference in the number of strokes was 3.6% and was considered statistically unreliable by the authors of the study.

"The results of our work indicate the potential benefit of a serious restriction on the use of partially hydrogenated fats, planned by the FDA. Partially hydrogenated fats are a source of trans fats in most finished products," the authors of the study conclude in a press release. Ban on trans fats in diet may reduce heart attacks and stroke.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  14.04.2017