High intake of saturated fats is linked to increased risk of heart disease

Eating more saturated fatty acids such as those found in cheese, whole milk, butter, beef, and chocolate, is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, a large observational study published in The BMJ has found.1

Researchers from Harvard University, USA, found that a 5% higher intake of longer chain dietary saturated fatty acids was associated with a 25% increased risk of coronary heart disease during 24 to 28 years of follow-up.

The team analysed data from two longitudinal cohort studies: the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which included 42 625 men from 1986 …