The recent non-scientific comments about eating fat

I recently saw this post on the supposed benefits of consuming coconut oil every day.  Typical of this sort of web post, the wide-ranging claims were not substantiated by reference to any peer-reviewed scientific publications.  Dr. Laurence Eyres, our resident expert on fats and oils, gave the following response:

We have recently seen articles that we can eat as much saturated fat as we wish and that coconut oil is a superfood!

The critics of the saturated fat hypothesis have used the fact that the direct correlation between total saturated fatty acids and risk factors for coronary heart disease is not very good. Mensink (2003) did a meta- analysis of 60 studies and found convincing evidence for the risk lowering benefits of replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats. In New Zealand we have seen media reports that the "Scientists got it all wrong" and that in fact we can all eat as much saturated fat as we desire. The popular press media picked this up, misinterpreted the scientific findings and announced that now everyone could eat as much bacon, eggs and cream as one wished.  There have also been unsubstantiated and erroneous claims made for coconut oil.

This advice is incorrect, unethical and irresponsible. Heart disease rates have been plummeting across the developed world, with the greatest declines in countries like New Zealand - countries where saturated fat consumption used to be among the world's highest but has plummeted after people switched from butter, full cream milk and dripping to margarine, low-fat milks and vegetable oils, and from fatty red meat to lean red meat and chicken. According to my friend and colleague Dr. Rod Jackson, who is Professor of Epidemiology at Auckland University, it makes no sense to deny the facts surrounding the corresponding fall in saturated fat and heart disease.  New Zealand in 1968 had a major epidemic of heart disease which led the medical fraternity to lobby government to change the law to allow the introduction of polyunsaturated margarine. Since that time saturated fat consumption has fallen dramatically, and unsaturated vegetable oil consumption has increased significantly; during this period we have seen a 90% reduction in mortality rates from heart disease (Skeaff, et.al., 2011).

 The reduction in CHD rates has coincided with a fall in the average cholesterol levels of the public.

Current risk factors for heart disease include high LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, age, overweight condition and level of fitness, along with inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and homocysteine. LDL cholesterol and blood pressure are the most reliable and consistent biomarkers.

We are not and have never said in our reviews that coconut oil is harmful. There is no evidence to suggests it has any health benefits, but as usual in diets, a small amount is fine so long as you are not at risk with some of the adverse factors mentioned above.

Dr. Laurence Eyres FNZIFST

October 2015