Patty W Siri-Tarino, Qi Sun, Frank B Hu, and Ronald M Krauss

Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Mar; 91(3): 535–546.

Published online 2010 Jan 13. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27725

Background:

A reduction in dietary saturated fat has generally been thought to improve cardiovascular health.

Objective:

The objective of this meta-analysis was to summarize the evidence related to the association of dietary saturated fat with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD; CHD inclusive of stroke) in prospective epidemiologic studies.

Design:

Twenty-one studies identified by searching MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and secondary referencing qualified for inclusion in this study. A random-effects model was used to derive composite relative risk estimates for CHD, stroke, and CVD.

Results:

· During five to 23 years of follow-ups on 347,747 subjects, 11,006 developed CHD or stroke.

· Intake of saturated fat was not associated with an increased risk of CHD, stroke, or CVD.

· The pooled relative risk estimates that compared extreme quantiles of saturated fat intake were 1.07, for CHD, 0.81 for stroke, and 1.00 for CVD.

· Consideration of age, sex, and study quality did not change the results.

Conclusions:

A meta-analysis of prospective epidemiologic studies showed no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD. More data are needed to elucidate whether CVD risks are likely influenced by the specific nutrients used to replace saturated fat.