Now scientists are saying that butter IS bad for your heart
CONFUSION over the safety of butter intensified yesterday after a major study claimed it does raise the risk of fatal heart disease.
Harvard research involving 120,000 adults found those who ate the most saturated fat were up to 8 per cent more likely to die.
The findings come less than a week after another study found that one tablespoon of butter had no impact on the risk of death, heart disease or strokes.
One leading cardiologist even claimed butter and other saturated fats may actually help in weight loss.
The latest research found that slashing the intake of saturated fats by only 5 per cent reduced the overall risk of mortality by more than a quarter.
Foods high in saturated fats include butter, cream, cheese, red meat, biscuits, cakes and pies.
They are thought to increase the levels of cholesterol in the blood, leading to the build-up of plaque in the arteries which in turn cause heart attacks and strokes.
Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston also found that replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats – which include low-fat vegetable spreads, fish, nuts and seeds – lowered the risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, said switching from butter to unsaturated alternatives would yield ‘substantial health benefits and should continue to be a key message in dietary recommendations’.
Saturated fat has been linked to dementia, by blocking the blood flow to the brain, and cancer as it contains oestrogen which fuels tumour growth.
Other experts broadly agreed with the findings, including Dr Ian Johnson, emeritus fellow at the Institute of Food Research,
‘Nothing to say butter is back’
who said: ‘There is nothing in these results consistent with the notion that “butter is back”.’
Dr Gunter Kuhnle, associate professor in nutrition and health at the University of Reading, said the results ‘broadly confirm current dietary recommendations’.
Saturated fats have been demonised since the 1970s after a study linked them to high levels of cholesterol. Subsequently, study after study linked them to heart disease and strokes.
As a result, people have been urged to cut back on saturated fats, with NHS guidance telling us to have butter occasionally and avoid cakes and pastries.
Recently, however, these findings have been disputed by experts.
Research shows that countries with the highest intake of saturated fats, including France, Italy and the Netherlands, have the lowest rates of heart disease.
Surrey-based cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra, founder of the campaign group Action On Sugar, claims saturated fat does not necessarily increase the risk of heart disease and may even protect against it.
He also argues that ditching it has led to us replacing it with sugar and carbohydrates, which are fuelling obesity.
The Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is now reviewing its guidelines on saturated fat over concerns that it has been unfairly demonised.