Hum Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 For those trying to eat a healthy diet, whole-fat dairy and trans fats are usually not on the menu ? at least, not yet. Scientists have narrowed in on a trans fat component found mainly in dairy fat that may ward off type 2 diabetes and protect cardiovascular health. While the research is far from conclusive and requires much further study, it suggests fats may play a more complex role in human health than previously thought. Researchers found that adults with high levels of a fatty acid (one of the main parts of fat molecules) called trans-palmitoleic acid in their blood had a three-fold lower risk for diabetes, according to a study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. This naturally produced trans fat component is found mainly in dairy, as well as some meats. These subjects also had lower body fat, higher good cholesterol levels, and lower triglyceride levels, which are all associated with better cardiovascular well-being. ?It?s exciting because traditionally fats were just seen as artery cloggers, but they seem to be both harmful and protective,? said lead author and Harvard epidemiologist Dariush Mozaffarian. ?The fatty acid world is becoming more interesting and complex.? Little is known about trans-palmitoleic acid. In a 1970 study, nutritionists found it comprised only 0.2 percent of all dairy fats. Mammals actually don?t produce it naturally. Bacteria found in cattle make the fatty acid during digestion, and it eventually finds its way to their milk. more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted December 21, 2010 Member Share Posted December 21, 2010 So grandma was right, eating a healthy diet in the right proportions is good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 So grandma was right, eating a healthy diet in the right proportions is good for you. Glad that science is catching up. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangm Supervisor Posted December 22, 2010 Supervisor Share Posted December 22, 2010 No, I'm not convinced by this study. If you fish through the veneer of journalism and look at what the study actually states, you'll probably realize that they don't have a mechanism. Researchers found that adults with high levels of a fatty acid (one of the main parts of fat molecules) called trans-palmitoleic acid in their blood had a three-fold lower risk for diabetes, according to a study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. This naturally produced trans fat component is found mainly in dairy, as well as some meats. These subjects also had lower body fat, higher good cholesterol levels, and lower triglyceride levels, which are all associated with better cardiovascular well-being. Why can't the bolded part be responsible for lowering the risk of diabetes? Analyzing blood samples and lifestyles of more than 3,700 adults 65 years or older, Mozzaffarian found that even when adjusting for various demographic and lifestyle differences, subjects with high levels of trans-palmitoleic acid or reported eating whole-fat dairy appeared to be in better shape than those who didn't. 739 people in the study had trans-palmitoleic acid at the highest protective level. The acid was found in each person studied. Read those sentences. How are they even connected with one another? What exactly does "appeared to be in better shape" mean? How does this shown that trans-palmitoleic acid is the causal agent? Does it even go as far as to establish a correlation between TPOA and health? Nope. This is only one study that does not show trans-palmitoleic acid or whole-fat dairy directly caused these differences. Finally, the one sentence in this article that isn't a weasel. Can a fat protect you from diabetes? Maybe, under certain conditions, but you won't find the answer in this study. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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