Sunflower oil and olive oil increase heart disease risk factors compared to butter

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the Journal of Nutrition 2002 Dec;132(12):3642-9 and a recipe for lamb kebabs.

Study title and authors:
Butter differs from olive oil and sunflower oil in its effects on postprandial lipemia and triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins after single mixed meals in healthy young men.

Books:

Mekki N, Charbonnier M, Borel P, Leonardi J, Juhel C, Portugal H, Lairon D.

Unité 476-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Human Nutrition and Lipids, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Université de la Méditerranée, 13009 Marseille, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12468601

Mekki notes how excess triglyceride levels accumulated after meals are related to heart disease risk.

The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of saturated fat (butter) , monounsaturated fat (olive oil) or (omega-6) polyunsaturated fat (sunflower oil) on post meal blood triglyceride and fat levels.

The study found that:
(a) The two unsaturated oils (olive oil and sunflower oil, found in many margarines), induced a higher post meal rise in (bad) triglyceride and (bad) chylomicron levels than the butter meal.
(b) Circulating chylomicrons were smaller after the butter meal than after the two vegetable oil meals. (So they can be eliminated more easily)

Mekki concluded that consumption of butter results in lower triglyceride and chylomicron levels in the circulation of young men than consumption of olive or sunflower oils.

High triglycerides and chylomicrons levels are implicated in heart disease. See here and here.

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Recipe of the day

Lamb Kebabs

Ingredients:

1 dried bay leaf

Food Mall: Lamb

1 inch piece ginger root chopped fine

1 inch cinamon stick

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp gound turmeric

1 tbsp oil

1.5 lbs lamb neck fillet

Instructions:

Using food processor, grind together first six ingredients (bay leaf through chili powder). Combine with garam masala, lemon juice turmeric and oil in a large bowl. Cut lamb into 1/4 inch slices. Add to spice mix and marinate room temp 1 hour or overnight in fridge. Spread out lamb on cookie sheet and cook in a 400F oven for 20 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and fresh cilantro.

Lamb Kebab



Margarine intake increases the risk of heart disease

This post includes a synopsis of a paper published in Epidemiology 1997 Mar;8(2):144-9

Study title and authors:
Margarine intake and subsequent coronary heart disease in men

Books:

Gillman MW, Cupples LA, Gagnon D, Millen BE, Ellison RC, Castelli WP.

Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.jstor.org/pss/3702499

The study compared margarine and butter consumption on 832 men age 45-64 years and free of heart disease, with over 21 years of follow-up.

The study found that:
(a) For each increment of 1 teaspoon per day of margarine there was a 10% increase of heart disease over 21 years.
(b) Butter intake did not predict heart disease incidence.

Gillman concluded that the study offered support to the hypothesis that margarine intake increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

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Butter does NOT cause heart disease

This post features a chart showing butter consumption since 1926

The chart below plots butter consumption trends versus the incidence of cancer and heart disease. Since 1926, consumption of butter has dropped precipitously, at the same time cancer and heart disease has soared. Many factors may be involved as to what causes cancer and heart disease but for sure it’s not the consumption of butter because these trends are going in the opposite direction.

http://www.slidefinder.net/o/oilingofamerica/3194348/p4

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