Overall, eating more saturated fat doesn't seem to increase your risk of having any kind of heart disease or stroke, according to a large review of 21 long-term studies.

Scientific Claim

Dietary saturated fat intake is not associated with an increased risk of overall cardiovascular disease in adults, based on pooled data from 21 prospective cohort studies involving 347,747 participants, with a relative risk of 1.00 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.11) comparing highest to lowest intake quartiles.

Original Statement

“Intake of saturated fat was not associated with an increased risk of CHD, stroke, or CVD. The pooled relative risk estimates that compared extreme quantiles of saturated fat intake were ... 1.00 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.11; P = 0.95) for CVD...”

From study:Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease

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 claim accurately reflects the study’s conclusion using appropriate correlational language and precise statistical values. No causal or definitive claims are made, which aligns with the observational design.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2010 Mar

This big study looked at hundreds of thousands of people over many years and found that eating more saturated fat didn’t make them more likely to have heart disease or stroke.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease

Score: 60

DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27725

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