A new meta-analysis of existing research on the link between dietary saturated fat and the risk of heart disease and stroke concluded "there is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) or CVD (cardiovascular disease)."

The study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and was authored by researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health and the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute.

Researchers combined the relative risk rates from 21 studies that represented 347,747 people whose diets and health outcomes had been followed for five to 23 years.

This National Institutes of Health-funded meta-analysis is among the largest ever done on saturated fat and heart disease and is likely to reverberate through the research community, according to the American Meat Institute, even though the researchers did conclude that more research should be conducted.

"This study is critically important because of its size and statistical power," said AMI Foundation President James H. Hodges in a news release. "No doubt, it will be viewed with skepticism by some researchers who believe strongly in a link between heart disease and saturated fat. But when it comes to science, we must view new findings with an open mind and critical thought. Without an open mind, we risk enacting misguided public policies.

"While this study may not reflect prevailing nutrition advice, it is a very substantial body of work," Hodges said. "It is important to note the study's authors relied upon 21 peer-reviewed papers in the scientific literature that represent some of the leading thinkers in nutrition research. The magnitude of this study and its findings merit both respect and thoughtful consideration."

To view the full paper, click here. 

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