Men who consume the most fat and saturated fat live longer and have a lower risk of dying from heart disease

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1980 Aug;33(8):1818-27

 

Study title and authors:

Relationship of dietary intake to subsequent coronary heart disease incidence: The Puerto Rico Heart Health Program.

Garcia-Palmieri MR, Sorlie P, Tillotson J, Costas R Jr, Cordero E, Rodriguez M.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7405884

This study investigated the relationship between intakes of various nutrients and total death rates and heart disease death rates. The study included 8,218 urban and rural Puerto Rican man aged 45 to 64 who were followed for six years.

Regarding fat and saturated fat intake, the study found:
(a) Urban men who died consumed 12% less fat compared to the urban men who survived.
(b) Urban men who died consumed 11% less saturated fat compared to the urban men who survived.
(c) Urban men who died of heart disease consumed 2% less fat compared to the urban men who survived.
(d) Urban men who died of heart disease consumed 5% less saturated fat compared to the urban men who survived.
(e) Rural men who died consumed 12% less fat compared to the rural men who survived.
(f) Rural men who died consumed 12% less saturated fat compared to the rural men who survived.
(g) Rural men who died of heart disease consumed 13% less fat compared to the rural men who survived.
(h) Rural men who died of heart disease consumed 9% less saturated fat compared to the rural men who survived.
(i) Urban men who died consumed 10% less cholesterol compared to the urban men who survived.
(j) Rural men who died consumed 8% less cholesterol compared to the rural men who survived.

The data from the study reveals that men who consume the most fat and saturated fat live longer and have a lower risk of dying from heart disease.