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You must be aware that current studies show trans fat lowers good cholesterol (HDL) which saturated fat does not do. Also, trans fat reduces blood vessel function. Trans fat is an unnatural processed fat and should not be recommended over natural saturated fat. Saturated fat is recommended at 10% of daily intake. Trans fat intake is recommended to be zero.

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidel.../pdf/2kdiet.pdf

Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

Advice For Today

To reduce your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol,

Limit use of animal fats, hard margarines (unless labeled

trans fatty acid free), and partially hydrogenated

shortenings. Use vegetable oils as a substitute.

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/labtrans.html

National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine,
Letter Report on Trans Fatty Acids

Coronary Heart Disease

Similar to saturated fatty acids, there is a positive linear trend between trans fatty acid intake and LDL cholesterol concentrations (Judd et al., 1994; Lichtenstein et al., 1999; Zock and Katan, 1992). Some evidence also suggests that trans fatty acids result in lower HDL cholesterol concentrations (Table 6). Hence, the net result is a higher total cholesterol (or LDL cholesterol):HDL cholesterol ratio (Judd et al., 1994; Lichtenstein et al., 1999; Zock and Katan, 1992). This finding, combined with data from prospective cohort studies (Ascherio et al., 1996;
Gillman et al., 1997; Hu et al., 1997; Pietinen et al., 1997; Willett et al., 1993) (Table 6), has lead to the concern that dietary trans fatty acids are more deleterious with respect to coronary heart disease than saturated fatty acids (Ascherio et al., 1999).

Summary

There is a positive linear trend between trans fatty acid intake and total and LDL cholesterol concentration, and therefore increased risk of CHD, thus suggesting a Tolerable Upper Intake
Level (UL) of zero.

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Dear Ms. Hunt:

I am the editorial director for Women's Health Interactive (WHI). I received your helpful visitor feedback on trans fatty acids, and wanted to thank you and let you know that we are revising that section of the Nutrition Center. The information you provided was most helpful and educational, and WHI registrants will definitely benefit from the update on our site.

Thank you again for your interest in WHI, and for the time and effort you devoted to providing us with accurate information.

Alison Harkin
WHI Editorial Director

That's great, Voyager! Now if they would just get the message that sat fats are good for you and the pyramid is dead, the information might be really useful.

BTW: They haven't changed their site yet that I could tell. It's still very much a caution against sat-fat. They only talk about hydrogenated fats in one small paragraph. It's too bad they didn't say when they would make the change.

;-Deb