Big Drop in U.S Trans Fats Consumption, Says CDC

Consumption of trans fats decreased by 58% between 2000 and 2009, according to a new population analysis conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The news has been picked up by a host of major news sites, including NPR and Reuters.

Trans fats have developed a negative image in recent years as research grows on their potential to increase LDL cholesterol while also decreasing HDL cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol. FDA has mandated the listing of trans fats on food labels since 2003, opening up marketing opportunities for claims such as “zero trans fats.”

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the study used a subset of white adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examinatio Survey (NHANES) in 2000 and 2009. The nutrient intake data collected under NHANES, including that of trans fat consumption, is believed to provide a well-powered representation of the national population.

“The 58 percent decline shows substantial progress that should help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults,” said Christopher Portier, PhD, director of CDC′s National Center for Environmental Health. “Findings from the CDC study demonstrate the effectiveness of these efforts in reducing blood [trans fatty acids] and highlight that further reductions in the levels of trans fats must remain an important public health goal.”

The CDC says future studies will focus on trans fat consumption rates in other ethnic groups.