Mechanism by which saturated fat raises LDL

[Tannith]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9101427 "reducing dietary saturated fat is associated with an increase in LDL-receptor abundance of magnitude similar to the decrease in serum LDL-cholesterol. Thus, an important mechanism by which reductions in dietary saturated fatty acids decrease LDL-cholesterol in humans is through an increase in LDL-receptor number."


And lowering sat fat also makes LDL less susceptible to oxidation: ". Therefore, the benefits of lowering dietary SFA may extend beyond decreasing LDL-C levels and include favorable qualitative changes in LDL that further decrease risk of coronary heart disease

 

[Brunneria]

While I am happy that this study does, in fact, show that it is possible to somewhat reduce LDL via dietary means, I disagree with the assumption that reducing LDL by dietary means is necessarily desirable, or beneficial to health.

I also note that the link dates the study to 1997, which is (as far as understanding of fat and diet is concerned) prehistoric.
Thankfully there is a great deal of work done since then, not based on the whole Fat Misunderstanding Debacle.

 

[Tannith]

This article discusses the MECHANISM by which saturated fat raises cholesterol in the bloodstream, ie by reducing LDL receptors in the body. I should have thought it would therefore be equally of interest to those who wish to raise their cholesterol because they believe it is a natural substance, and to those who wish to reduce theirs because it increases atherosclerosis (whether or not this atherosclerosis leads to a higher death rate from cardiovascular disease.)

 

[Biggles2]

While I am happy that this study does, in fact, show that it is possible to somewhat reduce LDL via dietary means, I disagree with the assumption that reducing LDL by dietary means is necessarily desirable, or beneficial to health.

Agreed @Brunneria. @Tannith, thank you for posting. The issue of the effects of LDL cholesterol on our risk of CVD is of course a very interesting topic for those of us who have switched our fuel/energy source from carbohydrate (sugars) to fat. Here is a link to a more recent (2016) study on the topic:
‘The Evidence for Saturated Fat and for Sugar Related to Coronary Heart Disease’

Conclusion
‘Many lines of evidence implicate added sugars more than saturated fat as etiologic in CHD. We urge dietary guidelines to shift focus away from recommendations to reduce saturated fat and towards recommendations to avoid added sugars. Specifically, recommendations should support the eating of whole foods (e.g. foods from living botanical plants) and the avoidance of ultra-processed foods (i.e., foods from industrial processing plants).’​

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4856550/pdf/nihms751491.pdf

 

[bulkbiker]

to those who wish to reduce theirs because it increases atherosclerosis

Could there be a "possibly" missing from that statement perchance.

 

[Tannith]

Thank you Biggles. But we don't eat sugar much -do we? For me its not about a choice between saturated fat and carbs but between saturated fat and other types of fat. Personally I would replace missing carbs with monounsaturated fat.

 

[Oldvatr]

Thank you Biggles. But we don't eat sugar much -do we? For me its not about a choice between saturated fat and carbs but between saturated fat and other types of fat. Personally I would replace missing carbs with monounsaturated fat.

Monounsaturated fat is indeed a healthy fat to use, provided it is cold pressed virgin oil. Bu unfortunately most modern oils in this category are industrially processed, chemically filtered, and heat treated to give a prolonged shelf life for the supermarkets. The olive oil available today is a far cry from that which used to be imported in the fifties and sixties when most low fat studies were conducted. Recent research is showing that saturated fat is actually healthy for most of us, and is also suitable for cooking, wheres a monounsaturated becomes harmful when used at elevated temp such as frying or baking. Monounsat should be only used for salad dressings and has a short useful life. BTW, as a T2D my enemy is not sugar, it is carbs and starchy foods, so I disagree with your analysis in this thread.

 

[Resurgam]

There is also the idea that all fat from animal sources is saturated.
Chicken - a whole one oven ready - is likely to be 14 percent fat, but only 4 percent saturated fat.

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

There is also the idea that all fat from animal sources is saturated.
Chicken - a whole one oven ready - is likely to be 14 percent fat, but only 4 percent saturated fat.

And olive oil is 14% saturated fat.

 

[Bluetit1802]

There is also the idea that all fat from animal sources is saturated.
Chicken - a whole one oven ready - is likely to be 14 percent fat, but only 4 percent saturated fat.

And olive oil is 14% saturated fat.

Indeed. Separating saturated from unsaturated is virtually impossible in most of the common foods we eat. We don't go to the shop to buy a tub of mono, and nor do we buy a tub of saturated. We buy a mixture.

 

[Guzzler]

I wish I could remember which boffin mentioned a possibility requiring a lot more research that plant sterols could prove to be more harmful than those from animals but this would certainly tie in with the latest thinking on industrially produced oils with regard to their inflammatory agents and another possible link to IR.

It may have been K. Sikaris, perhaps other members could help me on this one?

 

[ringi]

The main issue I have with "lowering saturated fat" is that I have to eat something and most other options are PROVEN not to be good for my BG......

 

[Guzzler]

A five minute interview with Dr. Aseem Malhotra (eminent cardiologist).

 

[Tannith]

For people who need to lower their cholesterol, the American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat to no more than 5 to 6 percent of total daily calories.
http://extension.colostate.edu/topi...ety-health/dietary-fat-and-cholesterol-9-319/

 

[bulkbiker]

For people who need to lower their cholesterol, the American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat to no more than 5 to 6 percent of total daily calories.

But you are assuming that lowering cholesterol is a "good" thing which for women over middle age for certain and probably for others is not in fact a "good" thing at all. As always people should do their own research.

 

[Bluetit1802]

For people who need to lower their cholesterol, the American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat to no more than 5 to 6 percent of total daily calories.

They also recommend several vegetable oils containing high amounts of omega 6 and low in omega 3, which are very bad for us due to omega 6 being inflammatory.

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

For people who need to lower their cholesterol, the American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat to no more than 5 to 6 percent of total daily calories.
http://extension.colostate.edu/topi...ety-health/dietary-fat-and-cholesterol-9-319/

Do they have some good evidence that this is healthy, other than it changes cholesterol levels?

 

[Tannith]

What is atherosclerosis?


One type of cardiovascular disease includes physical blockages that can stop blood flow in the coronary vessels and cause ischemia of the heart muscle. When this is severe and sudden, this is what is commonly referred to as myocardial infarction or a "heart attack." However, years of coronary artery disease typically precede the attack with gradual narrowing and blocking of the blood vessels. The blockages are formed by lipid or cholesterol deposits that cause inflammation and form plaques. These plaques calcify, block the vessels, and limit blood flow to the heart muscle. This process is called atherosclerosis. The plaques can also rupture, releasing a thrombus or clot that can block blood flow downstream and cause ischemia (decreased oxygen delivery to tissues) elsewhere in the heart or brain.

Because the body was not designed to have high levels of cholesterol (specifically LDL) in the blood, immune cells called macrophages move it into the blood vessel walls to get it out of the circulation. In this process, it becomes oxidized, and this is what triggers the inflammatory process. The macrophages become overwhelmed with the oxidized LDL, try to engulf it, becoming "foam cells." These foam cells trigger the need for further "clean up," and the body tries to sequester the unhealthy foam cells and forms a hard plaque around it. These plaques cause further inflammation within the tissue of the artery wall; this is how atherosclerosis progresses.

There are differences between how atherosclerosis develops in men and women. https://www.medicinenet.com/heart_disease_in_women/article.htm

 

[Kristin251]

I do a mixture of all. Avocado , olive oil, macadamias and pecans, olives.

I eat fatty fish like salmon, tuna and trout as well as many other fish. I eat chicken and turkey, both white and dark meat. I eat rare lamb chops and beef. Butter and ghee. I don’t eat chicken skins, loads of bacon or dairy.

My stomach only tolerates a certain amount of fat.

My cholesterol is stellar. I actually got a written report card telling me so.

I believe in getting a variety of fats every day.

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

What is atherosclerosis?


One type of cardiovascular disease includes physical blockages that can stop blood flow in the coronary vessels and cause ischemia of the heart muscle. When this is severe and sudden, this is what is commonly referred to as myocardial infarction or a "heart attack." However, years of coronary artery disease typically precede the attack with gradual narrowing and blocking of the blood vessels. The blockages are formed by lipid or cholesterol deposits that cause inflammation and form plaques. These plaques calcify, block the vessels, and limit blood flow to the heart muscle. This process is called atherosclerosis. The plaques can also rupture, releasing a thrombus or clot that can block blood flow downstream and cause ischemia (decreased oxygen delivery to tissues) elsewhere in the heart or brain.

Because the body was not designed to have high levels of cholesterol (specifically LDL) in the blood, immune cells called macrophages move it into the blood vessel walls to get it out of the circulation. In this process, it becomes oxidized, and this is what triggers the inflammatory process. The macrophages become overwhelmed with the oxidized LDL, try to engulf it, becoming "foam cells." These foam cells trigger the need for further "clean up," and the body tries to sequester the unhealthy foam cells and forms a hard plaque around it. These plaques cause further inflammation within the tissue of the artery wall; this is how atherosclerosis progresses.

There are differences between how atherosclerosis develops in men and women. https://www.medicinenet.com/heart_disease_in_women/article.htm

Yes, but are there any studies that show reducing saturated fat intake to less than 6% of calories is actually healthy?