Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T22:27:04.940Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dietary intake of trans fatty acids as a cardiovascular risk factor in a population of Italian teenagers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2009

Francesco Sofi ,
Daniele Rapini ,
Giulia Innocenti ,
Rosanna Abbate ,
Gian Franco Gensini  and
Alessandro Casini
Francesco Sofi*
Affiliation:
Regional Agency of Nutrition, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Italy Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Onlus IRCCS, Impruneta, Florence, Italy
Daniele Rapini
Affiliation:
Regional Agency of Nutrition, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Italy
Giulia Innocenti
Affiliation:
Regional Agency of Nutrition, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Italy
Rosanna Abbate
Affiliation:
Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence
Gian Franco Gensini
Affiliation:
Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Onlus IRCCS, Impruneta, Florence, Italy
Alessandro Casini
Affiliation:
Regional Agency of Nutrition, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Italy
*
Correspondence to: Francesco Sofi, MD, PhD, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Italy, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. Tel: +39-055-7949420; Fax: +39-055-7949418; E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Trans fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids produced by the partial hydrogenation of polyunsaturated oils. Over the last few years, an increasing interest on these fatty acids has been shown because of their role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. To date, major scientific associations strongly recommend consuming a low intake of trans fatty acids for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, but data on the consumption of these fatty acids in the general population are still lacking. We conducted this observational study on a population of Italian teenagers in order to evaluate the consumption of trans fatty acids in the diet. We studied 81 Italian teenagers, 45 males and 36 females, with a median age of 16 years. To assess their consumption of trans fatty acids, we used the “High School Survey”, a questionnaire prepared by the Harvard Medical School. Total calories of the studied population were 2359.2 ± 591.5 kcal/day with a mean intake of trans fatty acids of 3.24 ± 1.48 g/day, corresponding to 1.23% of the total energy. A relevant proportion of subjects, namely 51 (62.9%), exceeded the limit contribution of 1% of energy from trans fatty acids. Their intake of total calories and trans fatty acids significantly increased according to their increasing age (p = 0.0003 for trend). Our data, therefore, obtained in a limited population of Italian adolescents, showed that a consistent proportion of adolescents does not follow the nutritional recommendations for intake of trans fatty acids, likely increasing their risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

Nutritionadolescentsrisk factorsdiet
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , December 2009 , pp. 589 - 593
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Micha, R, Mozaffarian, D. Trans fatty acids: effects on cardiometabolic health and implications for policy. Prost Leukotriens Fatty Acids 2008; 79: 147–152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Mozaffarian, D, Willett, WC. Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular risk: a unique cardiometabolic imprint? Curr Atheroscler Rep 2007; 9: 486–493.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Lichtenstein, AH. Trans Fatty Acids, Plasma Lipid Levels, and Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation 1997; 95: 2588–2590.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Booker, CS, Mann, JI. Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular health: translation of the evidence base. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2008; 18: 448–456.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Sun, Q, Ma, J, Campos, H, et al. A prospective study of trans fatty acids in erythrocytes and risk of coronary heart disease. Circulation 2007; 115: 1858–1865.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Mozaffarian, D. Trans Fatty Acids- effects on systemic inflammation and endothelial function. Atherosclerosis Suppl 2006; 7: 29–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Mozaffarian, D, Katan, MB, Ascherio, A, Stampfer, MJ, Willett, WC. Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases. N Engl J Med 2006; 354: 1858–1865.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Bray, GA, Lovejoy, JC, Smith, SR, et al. The influence of different fats and fatty acids on obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation. J Nutr 2002; 132: 2488–2491.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Morris, MC, Evans, DA, Bienias, JL, et al. Dietary fats and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 2003; 60: 194–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.US Department of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.Google Scholar
11.Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, treatment of high blood cholesterol in adult (Adult Treatment Panel III). Final Report. Circulation 2002; 106: 3143–3421.Google Scholar
12.Astrup, A. The trans fatty acid story in Denmark. Atherosclerosis Suppl 2006; 7: 43–46.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.LARN, Composizione degli alimenti, aggiornamento 2000. Edizioni EDRA. Available at: http://www.sinu.it/larnGoogle Scholar
14.Mozaffarian, D, Clarke, R. Quantitative effects on cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease risk of replacing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with other fats and oils. Eur J Clin Nutr (in press).Google Scholar
15.Leth, T, Jensen, HG, Mikkelsen, AE, Bysted, A. The effect of the regulation on trans fatty acid content in Danish food. Atherosclerosis Suppl 2006; 7: 53–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Health Canada. Government response to the interim recommendations of the trans fat task force 2005. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/gras-trans-fats/government_response_reponse_gouvernement_e.htmlGoogle Scholar
17. Food and drug administration, Food labeling: Trans fatty acids in nutrition labeling, nutrient content claims, and health claims, in Federal Register, Department of Health and Human Services, Editor 2003.Google Scholar
18. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, press release: 94% of inspected restaurants in compliance with first phase of trans fat regulation 2007. Available from: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2007/pr080-07.shtmlGoogle Scholar
19.Lichtenstein, AH, Appel, LJ, Brands, M, et al. Diet and lifestyle recommendations Revision 2006. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee. Circulation 2006; 114: 82–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Steinberger, J, Daniels, SR, Eckel, RH, et al. American Heart Association Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in the Young Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Progress and challenges in metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in the Young Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation 2009; 119: 628–647.CrossRefGoogle Scholar