Anti-fat articles misquote studies

[Voyajer]

The quantity of misinformation on the web is astounding. Take this example from a doctor's article on a website called the healthy eating club.

http://www.healthyeatingclub.com/info/articles/fats-chol/sat-fat.htm

This doctor uses this study to claim that the fatty acids in saturated fat raise cholesterol.

It has been recognised that lauric acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid elevate the level of plasma cholesterol when substituted for carbohydrate in the diet (Mensink et al. Arterioscler Thromb 1992; 12: 911-9).

But what the study actually concluded was:

"Surprisingly, our regression equation would predict that replacement of saturates by carbohydrates yields little if any improvement in coronary risk."

The low-fat myth continues.

[Kristine]

Have you written to any of these folks, or is it just pointless? :rolleyes:

[Voyajer]

I attempted to find an e-mail address, but couldn't locate one. I e-mailed the webmaster of the site concerning the issue, but hardly think it will help.

This is one of dozens of similar errors and misquotes I've seen all over the internet. It would be a full time job to correct them all. I will try to point out the most glaring examples here on this forum.

[Voyajer]

I found 189 websites that say this:

"Trans-fatty acids may raise blood cholesterol levels,
although not as much as saturated fat."

This is despite studies proving that trans-fat lowers HDL while saturated fat raises HDL. These are among numerous studies proving saturated fats are better than trans fat:

J Nutr 2001 Feb;131(2):242-5

Consumption of a solid fat rich in lauric acid results in a more favorable serum lipid profile in healthy men and women than consumption of a solid fat rich in trans-fatty acids.

de Roos N, Schouten E, Katan M.


Lancet 2001 Mar 10;357(9258):746-51


Association between trans fatty acid intake and 10-year risk of coronary heart disease in the Zutphen Elderly Study: a prospective population-based study .

Oomen CM, Ocke MC, Feskens EJ, van Erp-Baart MA, Kok FJ, Kromhout D.


Biol Res 1999;32(4):273-87

Trans fatty acid isomers in human health and in the food industry.

Valenzuela A, Morgado N.

Am J Clin Nutr 1997 May;65(5):1419-26

Stearic acid, trans fatty acids, and dairy fat: effects on serum and lipoprotein lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), and lipid transfer proteins in healthy subjects.

Aro A, Jauhiainen M, Partanen R, Salminen I, Mutanen M.

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2001 Jul;21(7):1233-7

Replacement of dietary saturated fatty acids by trans fatty acids lowers serum HDL cholesterol and impairs endothelial function in healthy men and women.

de Roos NM, Bots ML, Katan MB.