Dietary Recommendations on Saturated Fat Questioned by Science

Chicago–Nutrition experts are speaking out against the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) recommendations on changes to saturated fat guidelines, and they are looking to the science to make their case.

The public comment period for these recommendations has closed, and according to Gerald McNeill, vice president of research and development at Loders Croklaan, the message is clear that science does not support the recommendation to lower saturated fat intake or reclassifying stearic acid as a non-cholesterol raising fat, nor does it answer what the impact may be if stearic acid is consumed at higher levels.

“The DGAC is tasked with making recommendations based on scientific evidence,” McNeill said. “However recent scientific publications and meta-analyses seem to have been overlooked by the committee. Additionally, some of the science that the committee relied on heavily appears to be invalid.”

McNeill cited two meta-analyses published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition within the last 18 months specifically stating that there is no proven, direct causal link between saturated fat and cardiovascular disease, and it is only polyunsaturated fat that has a positive impact. Other studies, including the Nurses’ Health Study and Women’s Health Initiative, observational and interventional studies respectively, found saturated fat intake had no impact on cardiovascular disease, he added.

“It is extremely important that the government closely scrutinize the strength of the committee’s recommendations before making updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” McNeill said. “It is clear that the science does not show the consequences of significantly increasing stearic acid intake.” McNeill reviewed the DGAC recommendations and contradictory scientific evidence at the IFT Annual Food Meeting & Expo in July.