How a low-fat diet can raise the risk of an early death
AVOIDING butter, cream and cheese could actually increase the risk of an early death, a major study has found.
Experts concluded low-fat diets could do more harm than good – finding those who eat the least fat have the highest mortality rates.
The research, presented yesterday at the world’s largest heart conference, challenges decades of dietary advice focused on cutting fat.
The Canadian research team, who published their study in the Lancet medical journal, said fat may actually have a protective effect on health.
They found those with the lowest fat intake were 23 per cent more likely to die young. The scientists instead recommended cutting back on carbohydrates – potatoes, bread, pasta and rice – which UK authorities say should be at the centre of a healthy diet.
Experts said the findings ‘add to the uncertainty’ over healthy diets.
Dr Mahshid Dehghan of McMaster University, told the European Society of Cardiology congress in Barcelona: ‘For decades, dietary guidelines have focused on reducing total fat and saturated fatty acid.
‘The body needs fat. It carries vitamins, it provides essential acids, it has a role in the body.’
She stressed that people should not eat unlimited fat – and British guidance of getting 35 per cent of energy from fat would be healthiest.
But she warned the focus on lowfat dieting – a drive supported by UK authorities – means people often go below this level. And she said fat is often replaced with carbohydrates and sugar, increasing heart risk. Her team assessed the diets of 135,335 people, aged 35 to 70, from 18 countries. Over 7.4 years research found those in the lowest fifth for fat intake were 23 per cent more likely to die than those in the highest fifth. And those with the highest carbohydrate intake were 28 per cent more likely to die than those with the lowest.
Researcher Dr Andrew Mente said: ‘Our message is one of moderation. Our data suggests that low-fat diets put populations at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.’
Public Health England recommends adults get up to 35 per cent of their energy from fat and 50 per cent from carbohydrates. British cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra, who has fought against the advice that fat should be cut, said: ‘It’s time for a complete Uturn in the dietary guidance.’
Professor Jeremy Pearson, of the British Heart Foundation, said the UK should reconsider dietary guidelines, particularly on carbohydrates.
A Lancet editorial by scientists at the US National Institute on Ageing, warned years of confusion would follow. But Professor Susan Jebb, the government’s former obesity tsar, called the study’s findings into question – saying many non- diet factors could have contributed to the deaths.
And Public Health England insisted it would not change its guidance.
Its chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said that reducing fat intake was still recommended.