Kids ate less artificial trans fat over 10 years, and their cholesterol got better — but the study couldn't say for sure if that was because of less trans fat or other changes in their diet.
Scientific Claim
In healthy 6-year-old children, lower intake of trans fatty acids (from 1.4% to 0.8% of energy) between 2001–2002 and 2011–2012 coincided with improved lipid profiles, but trans fat intake was not independently associated with LDL cholesterol in multivariate analysis.
Original Statement
“The average intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans FA was lower in 2011–2012 than 2001–2002 (13.3E% vs. 14.7E%, p < 0.001, and 0.8E% vs. 1.4E%, p < 0.001, respectively)... In multivariate linear regression... trans fatty acids were not independently associated with LDL cholesterol.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study correctly reports the lack of independent association after adjustment. The decline in trans fat is noted descriptively, not causally.
Gold Standard Evidence Needed
According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.
Randomized Controlled TrialLevel 1bWhether reducing trans fat intake independently lowers LDL cholesterol in children when SFA is held constant.
Whether reducing trans fat intake independently lowers LDL cholesterol in children when SFA is held constant.
What This Would Prove
Whether reducing trans fat intake independently lowers LDL cholesterol in children when SFA is held constant.
Ideal Study Design
A double-blind RCT of 120 healthy 6-year-olds with baseline trans fat intake >0.8% of energy, randomized to reduce trans fat to <0.5% (via reformulated foods) while maintaining SFA at 14% vs. control diet for 6 months, with LDL cholesterol as primary outcome.
Limitation: Trans fat levels are now very low in most diets, making recruitment difficult.
Prospective Cohort StudyLevel 2bWhether changes in trans fat intake independently predict changes in LDL cholesterol over time.
Whether changes in trans fat intake independently predict changes in LDL cholesterol over time.
What This Would Prove
Whether changes in trans fat intake independently predict changes in LDL cholesterol over time.
Ideal Study Design
A prospective cohort of 600 children aged 5–9, measuring annual trans fat and SFA intake via food records and LDL cholesterol, using longitudinal modeling to isolate trans fat effects.
Limitation: Residual confounding from other dietary changes is likely.
Cross-Sectional StudyLevel 3In EvidenceWhether trans fat intake correlates with LDL cholesterol after adjusting for SFA and other nutrients.
Whether trans fat intake correlates with LDL cholesterol after adjusting for SFA and other nutrients.
What This Would Prove
Whether trans fat intake correlates with LDL cholesterol after adjusting for SFA and other nutrients.
Ideal Study Design
A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 1,000 healthy 6-year-olds measuring trans fat intake and LDL cholesterol, with multivariate adjustment for SFA, PUFA, BMI, and energy intake.
Limitation: Cannot determine directionality or causality.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
Lower Intake of Saturated Fatty Acids Is Associated with Improved Lipid Profile in a 6-Year-Old Nationally Representative Population
The study found that eating less saturated fat (like butter and cheese) was what mainly helped kids have better cholesterol levels, not eating less trans fat—even though trans fat also went down. So the claim that lower trans fat caused the improvement is not supported.