Meta-Analysis
Findings Challenge Link Between Fat And Heart Disease
Another Example Of
Apparently “Random Medical News” Confusing To The Public
In a
surprising finding, a meta-analysis of 72 studies
involving more than 600,000 study participants by
Cambridge University researchers reported in the Annals
of Internal Medicine (March 18) has found that total
saturated fat is not associated with risk of heart
disease. Furthermore, levels of supposedly more
beneficial polyunsaturated fats showed no heart health
advantages. According to the authors, “Current
evidence does not clearly support cardiovascular
guidelines that encourage high consumption of
polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total
saturated fats.”
The media
has reported these results suggesting that giving up
fatty meat, cream, or butter is unlikely to improve
health. According to media reports, some observers are
calling for a new public health campaign to admit that
research has been wrong.
Harvard
nutritional epidemiologists Walter Willett,
Frank Sacks, and Meir Stampfer have been
quick to criticize the findings. In a letter to the
editor of the Annals, they claim the analysis of the
Cambridge investigators contains multiple errors and
omissions and the conclusions are seriously misleading.
They advise disregarding the conclusions.
These
findings and scientific disagreements add to the
conflicting epidemiologic results being provided to the
public and brings to mind the cartoon depicting what
these realities mean for the average person hearing
about them. See cartoon below.
Cartoon by Jim Borgman, first published by the
Cincinnati Inquirer and King Features Syndicate 1997 Apr
27; Forum section: 1 and reprinted in the New York
Times, 27 April 1997, E4.
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