Excessive Consumption of Fats and Cardiovascular Disease

The recommendation to restrict saturated fatty acid consumption has persisted despite some inconsistent findings. Emerging meta-analyses of observational studies and randomized trials indicate that that reducing saturated fatty acid intake does not significantly impact total mortality or cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, although it may offer protection against stroke. While saturated fatty acids can elevate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), this increase is associated with both smaller, denser LDL particles and larger LDL particles. The latter are less strongly linked to CVD risk. In this chapter, we will explore the relationship between excessive dietary fat intake and CVD, as well as the effects of saturated fatty acids on CVD risk biomarkers.