Contrary to most dietary advice handed out for decades, consuming moderate amounts of fat appears to reduce the risk of premature death, a major global study has found.
Research involving more than 135,000 people across five continents has shown that fat consumption representing about 35 per cent of daily caloric intake was associated with a lower risk of death, compared to lower fat intakes.
Researchers also found that dietary fats, including saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, are not associated with major cardiovascular diseases or increased risk of heart attacks.
However, a diet high in carbohydrates, in which carbs represent more than 60 per cent of caloric intake, was linked to higher mortality rates.
Overall, the study showed that avoiding a high-carb diet and consuming a moderate amount of fat, along with fruits and vegetables, can lower the risk of premature death.
The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study was led by researchers at the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Ont.
For an average of seven-and-a-half years, the study followed more than 135,000 people from 18 countries and various economic and cultural backgrounds. The collected data produced two reports, published Tuesday in The Lancet.
While the PURE study’s findings about dietary fats may seem surprising, Canadian researchers say the latest results are consistent with several other studies…