Fatim Ajwani, BSc RD, ARAMARK Canada Ltd at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON.
Maria Ricupero, BA, RD, CDE, ARAMARK Canada Ltd at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON.
Dietary trans fatty acids (TFA) have been implicated in contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Higher intakes of industrial TFA negatively impact cholesterol and inflammation levels, endothelial function, and LDL particle size. Dietary TFA are also associated with myocardial infarction and death. Due to the negative impact of TFA on cardiovascular health, the current recommendation is to keep total TFA intake to less than 2 grams/day. New labeling legislation has made it easier to achieve this goal. However, nutrition claims can be misleading. Despite positive new changes, patient counseling will still be required for accurate and careful interpretation of nutrition information.
Key words: trans fatty acids, diet, cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, conjugated linoleic acid.
