Dietary fat and health: the evidence and the politics of prevention: careful use of dietary fats can improve life and prevent disease

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Dec:1055:179-92. doi: 10.1196/annals.1323.028.

Abstract

Every year, more young people start the slow progressive injury that eventually becomes cardiovascular disease and death. It could be prevented with nutrition education, but medical efforts focus more on treatments for older people than on preventing primary causes of disease in young people. Two avoidable risks are prevented by simple dietary interventions: (1) Eat more omega-3 and less omega-6 fats, so tissues have less intense n-6 eicosanoid action, and (2) eat less food per meal to lower vascular postprandial oxidant stress. An empirical diet-tissue relationship was developed and put into an interactive personalized software program to aid informed food choices.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects
  • Dietary Fats / metabolism*
  • Eicosanoids / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / adverse effects
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Primary Prevention / methods*

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Eicosanoids
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6