Alzheimer's risk may be 75% higher for people who eat trans fat

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
• Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)

(CNN) - People with higher levels of trans fats in the blood may be between 50% and 75% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or dementia from any cause, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology

"This study shows that there are negative 'brain / cognitive' results, in addition to the known cardiovascular outcomes, which are related to a diet that is high in trans fat," said neurologist Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal, who was not involved. in the study. Aggarwal, a member of the American Academy of Neurology, is a co-leader of the Rush Center for Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago.

A significant study

More than 1,600 Japanese men and women without dementia were monitored over a period of 10 years. A blood test was performed for trans fat levels at the beginning of the study and their diets were analyzed.

Then, the researchers adjusted other factors that could affect the risk of dementia, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. They found that people with the two highest levels of trans fats were 52% and 74% more likely to develop dementia than those with the lowest levels.

"The study used levels of trans fat blood markers, instead of more traditionally used dietary questionnaires, which increases the scientific validity of the results," said neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of the Weill Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic Cornell Medicine in New York.

"This study is important as it is based on previous evidence that dietary intake of trans fats may increase the risk of Alzheimer's dementia," said Isaacson, who also was not involved in the study.

What are trans fats?

Trans fats can occur naturally in small amounts in certain meats and dairy products, but the greatest exposure comes from the artificial version.

Also called trans fatty acids, artificial trans fats are created by an industrialized process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid (such as semi-soft margarine and shortening).

The food industry loves trans fats because they are cheap to produce, last a long time and give food an excellent taste and texture.

In addition to fried foods, trans fats are found in coffee cream, cakes, frozen pizza, cookies, cookies, cookies and dozens of other processed foods.

In the Japanese study, researchers found that sweet cakes were the ones that contributed the most to higher levels of trans fat. The margarine followed, followed by sweets, candies, croissants, non-dairy creams, ice cream and rice crackers.

U.S. regulatory action

After extensive research revealed the connection between trans fats and the increase in bad cholesterol (LDL), combined with a reduction in good cholesterol (HDL), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) English) banned trans fats in 2015.

The companies received three years to stop using them; Then the FDA began granting extensions to various parts of the industry. The last extension expires on January 1.

But even if all manufacturers meet for the first year of the year, that does not mean that trans fats have disappeared from supermarket shelves. According to the FDA, if a portion of the food contains less than 0.5 grams, companies may label the food as "0 grams" of trans fat.

Even in small doses, artificial trans fats will continue to exist to contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other conditions, such as dementia.

United States, the small amounts still allowed in food can really add up if people eat several servings of these foods, and trans fats are still allowed in many other countries, ”said study author Dr. Toshiharu Ninomiya, professor from Kyushu. University in Fukuoka, Japan, in a statement.

"People at risk should still pay close attention to nutritional labels," said Isaacson. “When it comes to nutritional labels, the fewer ingredients, the better! Focus on natural whole foods and minimize or avoid those that are highly processed. ”

Aggarwal added: "This message should be delivered in countries where the ban on trans fats has not been promulgated or difficult to enforce."

AlzémierFats