Trans fats linked to higher dementia risk
A diet high in trans fats could put you at increased risk for dementia.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
In dementia-free Japanese adults aged 60+, a news study found higher consumption of industrially produced trans fats (indexed by a reliable blood biomarker) predicted higher risks for developing dementia over the next 10 years.For details, see:
And an earlier news report:
These new findings are consistent with those from an earlier cross-sectional study linking trans fats with memory impairment in working-age adults:
Trans fats are created by the 'hydrogenation' of vegetable oils - an industrial process used to solidify liquid seed oils (usually called 'veegtable oils' to make the sound healthier than they are) - and were originally developed as cheap substitutes for animal fats such as butter, cream or lard. These artificial fats were widespread in the food supply until undeniable evidence showed that trans fats are toxic, raising risks for cardiovascular disease in particular.
In 2009, the W.H.O declared that the upper safe level of consumption was zero - and most developed countries* introduced regulations to seriously reduce the trans fat content of industrially processed foods. However, they are still permitted at low levels, and so they are still found in a wide range of ultra-processed foods, including margarines and spreads, but also sweets, cakes, desserts, savoury snacks, fast foods, convenience foods and 'ready-meals', among many others.
*The UK in particular chose not to use regulation to restrict trans fats, relying instead on voluntary reductions by the food industry.
For more information on trans fats, see the FAB Factsheet - Hydrogenated and Trans Fats.
And the following lists, which are regularly updated.
A diet high in trans fats could put you at increased risk for dementia, a new study suggests.
Most trans fats were banned in the United States last year. But foods with less than a half-gram of trans fats can be labeled as containing zero, so some foods still contain them.
The new study included over 1,600 people in Japan without dementia. Their average age was 70, and they were followed for an average of 10 years. During that time, 377 of them developed dementia.
Of the 407 who started the study with the highest levels of trans fats in their blood, 104 developed dementia, a rate of 29.8 per 1,000 person-years. (A "person-year" is a formula that accounts for the number of people in a study and how long they were followed.)
Among those with the second-highest level of trans fats, the rate was 27.6 per 1,000 person-years. The rate was 21.3 among those with the lowest trans fat levels in their blood.
After adjusting for other dementia risk factors - such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking - the researchers concluded that compared to study participants with the lowest levels of trans fats, dementia risk was 52% more likely among those with the highest levels.
Foods that contributed the most to high blood levels of trans fats included sweet pastries, margarine, candies and caramels, croissants, non-dairy creamers, ice cream and rice crackers, according to the study published online Oct. 23 in the journal Neurology.
"These results give us even more reason to avoid trans fats," said lead author Toshiharu Ninomiya, a professor of epidemiology and public health at Kyushu University in Japan.
"In the United States, the small amounts still allowed in foods can really add up if people eat multiple servings of these foods, and trans fats are still allowed in many other countries."
Ninomiya noted in a journal news release that the World Health Organization has called for trans fats to be eliminated worldwide by 2023.
"These public health efforts have the potential to help prevent dementia cases around the world, not to mention the decrease in heart disease and other conditions related to trans fats," Ninomiya said.
Food and Behaviour Research is a registered charity (No SC034604) and a company limited by guarantee (Co No SC 253448)
Newsletter Signup
Useful Links
Contact Us
FAB Research
23 Carlton Road
Oxford
OX2 7SA
Important Notice
Medical opinion and guidance should always be sought for any symptoms that might possibly reflect a known or suspected disease, disorder or medical condition. Information provided on this website (or by FAB Research via any other means) does not in any way constitute advice on the treatment of any medical condition formally diagnosed or otherwise.
Site by Redstone Websites. Easy to Use Web Content Management. 2025 © All Rights Reserved.