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Trans fatty acids: New evidence – are they really that dangerous to our health?

Trans fatty acids - margarine and butter

Trans fatty acids are often mentioned in the context of unhealthy foods. Snacks, fast food, packaged products, and margarine are commonly associated with them, and many believe that these fats are the cause of numerous health issues. However, new research suggests that the situation may not be as bleak as it seems. What are the actual effects of trans fatty acids on our health? Will they really increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems?

What are trans fatty acids?

Trans fatty acids are unsaturated fats that are created during the industrial process of hydrogenation. This process transforms vegetable oils into solid fats, such as margarine. While trans fatty acids were once considered one of the main causes of heart disease, new research suggests that their effects may not be as dramatic as previously thought.

New research: What have researchers discovered?

One of the latest studies published in the journal Nature Communications addressed the question: how dangerous are trans fatty acids really? The study involved over 6,000 participants, and a team of scientists analyzed the effects of trans fatty acids on health, cholesterol levels, and inflammatory processes in the body. The study was based on three key questions:

  1. How do trans fatty acids affect blood cholesterol levels?
  2. Do trans fatty acids increase inflammatory processes in the body?
  3. Do we have tangible evidence that trans fatty acids increase the risk of heart disease?
Conducting the experiment, researchers used advanced technologies to analyze the metabolic and genetic changes induced by the consumption of trans fatty acids.Results: Trans fatty acids are not as bad as we thoughtAlthough trans fatty acids are linked to an increase in bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, new research shows that this increase is not as dramatic. The study found that trans fatty acids, such as trans-vaccenic acid and elaidic acid, can cause a slight increase in LDL, but only if consumed in large quantities over an extended period of time.Interestingly, scientists noticed that the consumption of trans fatty acids was not associated with an increase in inflammatory processes in the body. Inflammatory markers like CRP and IL-6 showed no significant changes in the blood of healthy individuals who consumed products containing trans fatty acids.

Which fats are healthier?

Although trans fatty acids are linked to several health problems, research has shown that butter, which contains saturated fats, has a less harmful effect on health compared to margarine, which often contains trans fatty acids. Therefore, while butter is not ideal, it has been found to be a better option than margarine.

Conclusion: No need to panic, but moderation is key

Although trans fatty acids are associated with an increase in bad cholesterol, the latest research suggests that occasional consumption of trans fatty acids is not as dangerous as previously thought. Thus, trans fatty acids themselves are not that harmful, but that does not mean we can carelessly consume too much food containing them. The key is moderation and a healthy, balanced diet.

Iako je i dalje preporučljivo smanjiti unos hrane bogate trans masnim kiselinama, povremena konzumacija neće nužno uzrokovati ozbiljne zdravstvene probleme. Dakle, nemojte paničariti, ali obratite pozornost na svoju prehranu.

Puni tekst studije možete pronaći na Nature Communications: Molecular effects of the consumption of margarine and butter varying in trans fat composition: a parallel human intervention study.

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