A Half-Truth is Not the Whole Truth: The AHA Position on Saturated Fat

• Main Author: Dayrit, Fabian M
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2017
• Subjects: Chemistry
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/chemistry-faculty-pubs/31; https://www.icp.org.ph/2017/06/a-half-truth-is-not-the-whole-truth-the-aha-position-on-saturated-fat/
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This second in this series of papers will present the biases in the American Heart Association’s 2017 Presidential Advisory with respect to saturated fat. Although important differences in the metabolic properties of specific SFA have been known since the 1960s, the AHA still considers all SFA as one group having the same properties. There is abundant research available that supports the designation of C6 to C12 fatty acids as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). This is particularly relevant to coconut oil, which is made up of about 65% MCFA. Ignoring the evidence, AHA simply labels coconut oil as SFA. The AHA promotes half-truths, not the whole truth. Abbreviations: AHA: American Heart Association; CHD: coronary heart disease; CVD: cardiovascular disease; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LCFA: long-chain fatty acid; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; MCFA: medium-chain fatty acid; MCT: medium-chain triglyceride; oxLDL: oxidized low-density lipoprotein; PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acid; oxLDL: oxidized low-density lipoprotein; SFA: saturated fatty acid