When scientists combined all the big studies, they found eating butter or meat doesn’t raise your risk of heart disease.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (6)
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Evidence from randomised controlled trials did not support the introduction of dietary fat guidelines in 1977 and 1983: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This study found that cutting back on saturated fat didn’t lower the number of heart disease deaths, even though it lowered cholesterol — meaning the old advice to avoid saturated fat for heart health wasn’t backed by solid evidence.
Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease.
This big study looked at lots of people over many years and found that eating more saturated fat didn’t make them more likely to get heart disease or stroke, so it supports the idea that saturated fat isn’t as bad for your heart as once thought.
Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease
This big study looked at lots of people over many years and found that eating more saturated fat didn’t make them more likely to get heart disease or stroke.
Evidence from prospective cohort studies does not support current dietary fat guidelines: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This study looked at lots of people over many years and found that eating more saturated fat didn’t make them more likely to die from heart disease, so the idea that saturated fat is bad for your heart isn’t backed by this evidence.
Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This big study looked at what hundreds of thousands of people ate and found that eating more saturated fat didn’t make them more likely to get heart disease, which matches the claim that saturated fat isn’t strongly linked to heart problems.
Intake of saturated and trans unsaturated fatty acids and risk of all cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
This big study looked at lots of people over time and found that eating more saturated fat didn’t clearly lead to more heart disease or stroke, which matches the claim that saturated fat isn’t strongly linked to heart problems.
Contradicting (2)
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Major types of dietary fat and risk of coronary heart disease: a pooled analysis of 11 cohort studies.
This study found that eating less saturated fat and more healthy fats (like those in nuts and fish) lowers heart disease risk, which means saturated fat does matter for heart health—not the other way around.
Dietary fat intake and risk of coronary heart disease: the Strong Heart Study.
This study found that American Indians who ate more saturated fat were more likely to die from heart disease — especially if they were younger — which goes against the claim that saturated fat doesn’t affect heart disease risk.