Vegetable oil is not a healthier substitute for butter in terms of preventing heart disease and increasing life expectancy based on a new study. The 45-year research shows that consuming extra saturated fat does not seem to be unhealthier than cooking with vegetable oil. Some fats such as sunflower oil can help to lower cholesterol levels but do not improve long-term health or cause longer lifespans.
The new study was conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland.
Researchers actually found that people with the greatest drop in blood cholesterol seem to have a higher risk of death, according to The Telegraph. NIH scientists shared that the benefits of replacing butter with vegetable oil rich in a type of omega 6 fat have been over-estimated.
Vegetable oil is high in a kind of omega 6 polyunsaturated fat called linoleic acid. The omega 6 fat is found in cooking oils including sunflower, corn, and sesame oils; and some spreads.
In the new NIH study researchers analyzed many trials including the Minnesota Coronary Experiment (MCE) that included participants from a nursing home and mental hospitals.
During the 1973 trial, one group switched from saturated fat, to linoleic acid from corn oil and corn oil margarine. Meanwhile, the control group had diets high in saturated fat that included butter and margarines.
Researchers learned that corn oil caused lower cholesterol levels but also a higher rate of death. They found no benefit of consuming vegetable oil in terms of risk of heart attack or heart disease.
The demonization of saturated fats is due to a 1950s study that linked high intake of saturated fat to death due to heart disease. However, the study's conclusion was based on data from six nations and ignored data from another 16 nations.
In related news, a new study suggests that eating full-fat dairy food instead of low-fat versions could lower the risk for obesity and diabetes, according to CBS News. Tufts researchers report that full-fat milk can lower risk of diabetes by 46 percent compared to people who choose skim milk and low-fat cheese and yogurt. The research was based on blood test results that showed the biological markers of eating full-fat dairy.
Here are health benefits of almond butter: