There isn’t strong enough proof to say that eating less saturated fat and more vegetable oils will definitely prevent heart disease, according to this big review.

Scientific Claim

The overall body of evidence from observational and randomized studies does not clearly support current cardiovascular guidelines that recommend low saturated fat and high polyunsaturated fat intake.

Original Statement

“CONCLUSION: Current evidence does not clearly support cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats.”

From study:Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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 conclusion uses 'does not clearly support,' which is precise and appropriate for a meta-analysis of observational and RCT data that cannot establish causation.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2014 Mar 18

This big study looked at lots of people and found that eating more saturated fat doesn’t clearly raise heart disease risk, and eating more polyunsaturated fats doesn’t clearly lower it either — so the advice to cut saturated fat and boost polyunsaturated fats isn’t strongly backed by the science.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Score: 42

DOI: 10.7326/m13-1788

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