Low-Fat Diet Doesn’t Alter Cholesterol

Following an overall low-fat diet apparently does not raise or lower blood fats linked to the risk of heart disease. That’s the conclusion of researchers based upon a new study of women. But women who ate less saturated fat and trans fat did have a lower rate of heart disease. Researchers used data from the Women’s Health Initiative, large, long-term study. Women in the low-fat group consumed about 29.3% of their calories from fat. For other women, the fat intake was about 37% of total calories. Researchers kept track of them for an average of eight years. The low-fat diet did not affect blood triglycerides, HDL cholesterol or other levels of blood fats. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. HealthDay News wrote about it March 18.