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ASN Encourages Further Study into Effects of Dietary Fats on Health; American Society for Nutrition Statement (ASN) on WHI Studies

Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 12:00 CST

WASHINGTON, March 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Society for Nutrition released the following statement, regarding the effects of dietary fats on health:

Women's Health Initiative (WHI) findings recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who follow a low-fat diet do not significantly reduce their risk of breast or colorectal cancer, heart disease or stroke. This research adds key data to the body of scientific knowledge on the subject of dietary fats and health. It is vital that these and other data be considered collectively and be placed in the context of an overall healthful diet for consumers.

The general public should not see these findings as "carte blanche" to eat a high-fat diet. The 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines , an evidence-based review of the current state of nutrition science, recommend that adults keep their total fat intake between 20 and 35 percent of calories, and saturated fats less than 10 percent, with most fats coming from sources of the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

By the end of the eight-year study, women in the low-fat group had an average intake of 29 percent of calories from fat, well within the Dietary Guidelines. This intake was 8 percent less than that of the women in the control group, and the researchers reported a trend toward lower breast cancer rates in women in the low-fat group compared to women in the control group. In addition, women who achieved greater reductions in saturated or trans fat intake and consumed more fruits and vegetables, appeared to have a reduced risk of heart attacks.

"While WHI's data are thought-provoking, they also lead us to other important scientific questions, such as the impact of different types of fat in the diet and the influence of age, since the women were post-menopausal. These areas need further exploration and evaluation," says Naomi Fukagawa, M.D., Ph.D., co-president of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). She adds, "Science is evolutionary, not revolutionary. As nutrition researchers, we look forward to future reports from the WHI which may help to clarify some of the questions raised."

There is little doubt that eating healthier, along with an emphasis on weight management and physical activity, remain vital to our nation's health and well-being. One cannot go wrong following the Dietary Guidelines that say "Eat a variety of nutrient-rich healthy foods and beverages within and among the basic food groups while choosing foods that limit the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt and alcohol." Because of this, ASN emphasizes that there is no conflict between the outcomes of the WHI and the Dietary Guidelines.

About ASN

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) was formed by the union of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences (ASNS), the American Society for Clinical Nutrition (ASCN) and the Society for International Nutrition Research (SINR). As the leading professional nutrition research society in North America, ASN represents and advances the views of our 2500 clinical and research nutritionists concerned about the development and application of knowledge in the field of nutritional science. The ASN Media Guide to Experts is available at http://www.asnutrition.org/ Guide(percent)20to(percent)20Experts(percent)202005.pdf

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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