Artificial edible oils, or trans fats, are silent killers

Dubai - WHO estimates that every year, trans fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week urged governments to eliminate the use of trans fats, a kind of industrially produced edible oil and other artery-clogging products that have been linked to millions of premature deaths from heart disease.
Health experts in the UAE said that though a number of countries have already started taking steps, a push by the world body will save millions of lives. The experts also advised consumers to check food label contents and ingredient lists to see if hydrogenated oil is used or not.
"It is highly recommended to choose zero gram trans fats foods with no hydrogenated oil in the ingredients list," said Rayan Saleh, dietician from the Department of Clinical Nutrition, Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery, Dubai.
"People are encouraged to consume monounsaturated fats (such as canola oil, olive oil, avocado and polyunsaturated fats (such as sunflower oil, soybean oil, and fatty fish) in moderation," she said.
Artificial trans fats, better known to many consumers as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, that also includes products like margarine, have contributed to a half million deaths a year, many of those in developing countries.
WHO estimates that every year, trans fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease. Industrially-produced trans fats are contained in hardened vegetable fats, such as margarine and ghee, and are often present in snack food, baked foods, and fried foods. Manufacturers often use them as they have a longer shelf life than other fats. But healthier alternatives can be used that do not affect the taste or cost of food.
In Denmark, the first country to mandate restrictions on industrially-produced trans fats, the trans fat content of food products declined dramatically and cardiovascular disease deaths declined reasonably.
"Although several countries including the United States, Canada and Switzerland have started to reduce the use of trans fats or trans fatty acids due to their harmful effects on health, other countries are using them to a great extent," said Rayan.
"In fact, we can find two types of trans fats in food, the naturally occurring and the artificial trans fats. The naturally occurring trans fats are found in the guts of some animals and in some foods such as milk and meat," she added.
Rayan said that the major sources of trans fats are biscuits, doughnuts, baked goods (such as cakes and cookies), frozen pizza, crackers, stick margarine and other spreads.
Studies have shown that people who consume high amounts of trans fats are at higher risk of developing coronary artery disease, due to the adverse effects of these fats on blood cholesterol and inflammatory factors. Research evidence has demonstrated that trans fats increases bad cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin levels while reducing the good cholesterol levels in blood.
In addition, a high intake of trans fats is linked to a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and certain cancers.
"It is not only the total amount of fats consumed per day which is essential to monitor, but also the type of fat ingested," said Rayan.
Dr Maged Fahim Tewfik, Specialist, Cardiovascular Disease at Medeor 24x7 International Hospital, Al Ain said that trans fats are the most unhealthy type of fat.
"It can raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke," he said, adding that it is also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
"It is important to cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet and preparing lean meats and poultry without added saturated and trans fat," he added.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE