BUTTER may be better for you than margarine, a major study has claimed.
It said switching to “healthy” spreads may even increase the risk of early
death — particularly for older people, smokers or heart disease sufferers.
The findings challenge years of advice to avoid saturated fats found in dairy
and meat. Scientists working on the new study warned that oils high in omega
6 fat, also known as linoleic acid, are not “natural to human diets” and may
be harmful.
The fat is commonly found in vegetable oils such as corn, sunflower, and
rapeseed — and in margarines made from them. Brands such as Flora boast of
being high in omega 6.
Experts who studied five diet trials found that although levels of cholesterol
fell, there were no other health benefits if people switched to vegetable
spreads.
They said it was “difficult to understand” why these findings were not
previously published.
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Data from one trial showed “the risk of death from heart disease was higher in
those who replaced saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid”.
The US scientists think that high levels of omega 6 may counteract any
benefits.
The NHS still recommends switching to unsaturated fats but Public Health
England is reviewing saturated fat guidelines.
Unilever, which makes Flora, said “overwhelming evidence” showed its spreads
“contribute significantly to heart health”.