LONDON, Jan. 23, Reuter: Heart Disease may stem from a deficiency of essential fatty acids in the diet and not excess consumption of saturated fats, a major new study by scientists in Scotland suggested today.
A 5,000 word report on an extensive study of coronary disease, involving more than 6,000 people, was published in the British medical journal the Lancet.
It revealed that people who had suffered from heart attacks or angina chest pain caused by heart disease had less essential fatty acids in their body fats than other people.
Essential fatty acids are contained in fish and vegetable oil, while saturated fats in the diet come mainly from animal food.
“Until now the evidence has appeared to suggest that heart disease is caused by eating too much saturated fat”, said Michael Oliver, Professor of Cardiology at Edinburgh University. “Our research suggests it is the deficiency of polyunsaturated fat which is important”.
The report said smokers were found to have less essential fatty acids in their bodies than nonsmokers and this way be one explanation of why they were more likely to develop heart disease.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 6, 1987
