Day 014 - 20 Jul 94 - Page 19
1 thought there is a relationship between the consumption of
fat and a raised serum cholesterol level in human beings?
2 A. Yes. In general saturated fatty acids, or some of the
family of saturated fatty acids, are known to increase or
3 push up the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. On
the other hand, the polyunsaturated fats and the
4 monounsaturates it is generally accepted they will reduce
the level of cholesterol, the concentration of cholesterol
5 in the blood. The main reason for concern about that is
that in general terms the higher the concentration of
6 cholesterol in the blood, then the greater the risk there
will be of development of atherosclerosis, consequent
7 death from heart disease.
8 Q. Can I ask you this question: Are there now observed or
thought to exist any deleterious effects of transfatty
9 acids?
A. Well, there is evidence coming through from some
10 studies now in the United States of America that --
perhaps I should explain, these transfatty acids are
11 formed during the hydrogenation process. Polyunsaturates
are being converted into a partially hydrogenated form.
12 As a result of that process, there is a geometric
rearrangement of the double bonds which produces these
13 transfatty acids, and there is concern now emerging from
experiments which have been conducted within the last
14 couple of years that these may actually increase the rate
of heart disease.
15
Q. So that if I stopped eating butter because it contained
16 saturated fatty acids being a dairy product, yes?
A. Yes.
17
Q. And changed to margarine, which is a vegetable product,
18 but I assume a hydrogenated one?
A. Well, some margarines.
19
Q. Should I be wondering whether that is the right thing to
20 do?
A. Well, the question obviously has been raised.
21
Q. Can I now go back to your table -- one preliminary
22 question: Amongst the fatty acids, the saturated fatty
acids, are there some that from a health point of view
23 have been more consistently or more thoroughly vilified
than others?
24 A. From the point of view of raising blood cholesterol,
yes; there are two long chain fatty acids in particular,
25 the C14 myristic ----
26 Q. Myristic?
A. Myristic.
27
Q. M-Y-R-I-S-T-I-C, is that right?
28 A. Yes, that is correct. And the one containing 16
carbons, which is palmitic acid; there is evidence
29 indicating that they are particularly effective in raising
blood cholesterol, whereas the next one up, the C18 or
30 stearic acid, is now thought to be neutral as far as the
effect upon blood cholesterol is concerned. Similarly,
