PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Zoë Harcombe
AU  - Julien S Baker
AU  - Bruce Davies
TI  - Evidence from prospective cohort studies does not support current dietary fat guidelines: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096550
DP  - 2017 Dec 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 1743--1749
VI  - 51
IP  - 24
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/24/1743.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/24/1743.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2017 Dec 01; 51
AB  - Objectives National dietary guidelines were introduced in 1977 and 1983, by the US and UK governments to reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality by reducing dietary fat intake. Our 2016 systematic review examined the epidemiological evidence available to the dietary committees at the time; we found no support for the recommendations to restrict dietary fat. The present investigation extends our work by re-examining the totality of epidemiological evidence currently available relating to dietary fat guidelines.Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies currently available, which examined the relationship between dietary fat, serum cholesterol and the development of CHD, were undertaken.Results Across 7 studies, involving 89 801 participants (94% male), there were 2024 deaths from CHD during the mean follow-up of 11.9±5.6 years. The death rate from CHD was 2.25%. Eight data sets were suitable for inclusion in meta-analysis; all excluded participants with previous heart disease. Risk ratios (RRs) from meta-analysis were not statistically significant for CHD deaths and total or saturated fat consumption. The RR from meta-analysis for total fat intake and CHD deaths was 1.04 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.10). The RR from meta-analysis for saturated fat intake and CHD deaths was 1.08 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.25).Conclusions Epidemiological evidence to date found no significant difference in CHD mortality and total fat or saturated fat intake and thus does not support the present dietary fat guidelines. The evidence per se lacks generalisability for population-wide guidelines.