Trans Fats Are Linked To The Health Damage

For a very long time, trans fat was considered perfectly safe. Moreover, trans fats from the margarine were considered a healthier option than saturated fats of butter. However, starting from the 1960s the evidences against the trans fats started to gradually accumulate. 

There is a significant body of evidences linking trans fats with various health problems and conditions. The exact mechanisms underlying these problems are not always known and continue to be investigated. One of the major theories is that unlike cis fatty acids, trans fatty acids cannot be metabolized by human lipase (enzyme splitting the fatty acids). This leads to the excessive accumulation of the trans unsaturated fatty acids in the body. They can inhibit different biochemical processes associated with fat metabolism.

Trans fat is particularly damaging for the health of heart

Excessive consumption of trans fats is linked to coronary heart disease.  Coronary heart disease is caused by formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, particularly in the heart muscle. The process is accelerated by the high level of cholesterol in blood. The effect of trans fats consumption on the level of cholesterol is very well documented. 

Excessive consumption of natural saturated fats is also linked to the higher risk of heart problems. But trans fats seem to be more dangerous to the cardiovascular system. The difference between these two types of fats comes from the mechanism of their influence on the level of cholesterol.

Negative effects of trans fats are connected with the level of cholesterol

Blood cholesterol is often subdivided into two classes: LDL (so-called bad cholesterol) and HDL (so-called good cholesterol). The abbreviations refer not to cholesterol itself (chemically it remains exactly the same in both cases) but to high-density and low-density lipoproteins, the carrier proteins transporting cholesterol within the body. Cholesterol is an essential component of cellular biochemistry, human body requires certain amounts of cholesterol. However, modern processed food contains larger than normal amounts cholesterol. HDL effectively transports cholesterol to the liver where it gets metabolized. LDL, on the other hand, binds cholesterol quite loosely. As a result, molecule of cholesterol can be lost during transportation. Cholesterol is not soluble in aqueous media. Once it dissociates from the carrier molecule, it tends to precipitate to the walls of blood vessels. Thus, high level of LDL promotes the formation of cholesterol plaques, while higher level of HDL supports normal process of cholesterol elimination. Both saturated fats and trans fats increase the level of LDL. But unlike saturated fats, trans fats also reduce the level of good cholesterol, HDL. As a result, trans fats have two negative effects on the overall cholesterol level, which leads to particularly bad effect on heart.

Trans fats are associated with a number of other health conditions, such as diabetes  and cancer. Alzheimer’s disease and major depressive disorders were also linked to the excessive consumption of trans fats. Exact connections between trans fats and these conditions are still being investigated by researcher.

Trans fat is a significant concerns for health authorities around the world

Overwhelming evidences pointing to the connections between trans fats consumption and a number of serious health conditions caused many governmental and regulatory authorities around the world to introduce partial or total bans on the trans fats in the food.  Total ban was introduced in several European countries such as Denmark and Switzerland. Mandatory food labeling for trans fats is also introduced by many countries including UK. World Health Organization recommends limiting the amount of trans fats in foods by no more than 1% of calories intake.