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Not all trans fat has same affect on cholesterol

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Many individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results are advised against eating any type of trans fat. However, a new study indicates that it may be safe for them to consume the fat in certain forms.

Trans fat occurs naturally in many foods, mainly red meat. However, it is also added to processed foods like potato chips and other snack items. Findings from the new study, which were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate that trans fat in the latter form may be most dangerous.

Researchers from Laval University in Canada had a group of 61 healthy female participants eat a diet consisting of many foods high in naturally-occurring trans fat for a period of four weeks. Results showed that after this period, the participants' LDL cholesterol levels remained the same.

In obese individuals, HDL cholesterol decreased slightly, though this effect was not observed in women with a healthy body mass index.

Therefore, while foods containing industrially added trans fat may be a bad idea for those who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results, foods with naturally occurring trans fat may not pose the same risks.