Dr Cliff Harvey

Summary of the Effects of Saturated Fat on Heart Health & Mortality

Saturated fat is often vilified but within the context of an otherwise healthy diet it isn't likely to be a major risk for mortality.

The evidence from both observational and randomised controlled trials suggests that:

Saturated fat in the diet does not independently increase the risk of mortality.
There is a possible, albeit small risk of increased cardiovascular events
Substitution analysis favouring a reduction in saturated fat is likely due to relative insufficiency of polyunsaturated fat overall or more specifically omega-3 fat.
Some saturated fats are likely to have specific health benefits when compared to other fats, including polyunsaturated long-chain fats.

In the context of an otherwise healthy diet, reducing saturated fat is unlikely to have any appreciable effect on health outcomes.

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Cliff Harvey October 14, 2024