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,

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