Comments on moderate alcohol consumption and mortality

Abstract not availableElizabeth Barrett-Connor, Giovanni de Gaetano, Luc Djoussé, Curtis Ellison, Ramon Estruch, Harvey Finkel, Tedd Goldfinger, Ulrich Keil, Dominique Lanzmann-Petithory, Fulvio Mattivi, Erik Skovenborg, Creina Stockley, Arne Svilaas, Pierre-Louis Teissedre, Dag S. Thelle, Fulvio Ursini, Andrew L. Waterhous

Intake of fatty acids in Western Europe with emphasis on trans fatty acids: The TRANSFAIR study

Objective: To assess the intake of trans fatty acids (TFA) and other fatty acids in 14 Western European countries. Design and subjects: A maximum of 100 foods per country were sampled and centrally analysed. Each country calculated the intake of individual trans and other fatty acids, clusters of fatty acids and total fat in adults and/or the total population using the best available national food consumption data set. Results: A wide variation was observed in the intake of total fat and (clusters) of fatty acids in absolute amounts. The variation in proportion of energy derived from total fat and from clusters of fatty acids was less. Only in Finland, Italy, Norway and Portugal total fat did provide on average less than 35% of energy intake. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) provided on average between 10% and 19% of total energy intake, with the lowest contribution in most Mediterranean countries. TFA intake ranged from 0.5% (Greece, Italy) to 2.1% (Iceland) of energy intake among men and from 0.8% (Greece) to 1.9% among women (Iceland) (1.2-6.7 g/d and 1.7-4.1 g/d, respectively). The TFA intake was lowest in Mediterranean countries (0.5 -0.8 en%) but was also below 1% of energy in Finland and Germany. Moderate intakes were seen in Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway and UK and highest intake in Iceland. Trans isomers of C(18:1) were the most TFA in the diet. Monounsaturated fatty acids contributed 9-12% of mean daily energy intake (except for Greece, nearly 18%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids 3-7%. Conclusion: The current intake of TFA in most Western European countries does not appear to be a reason for major concern. In several countries a considerable proportion of energy was derived from SFA. It would therefore be prudent to reduce intake of all cholesterol-raising fatty acids, TFA included. Sponsorship: Commission of the European Communities (AIR 2421); National Funds; European Industries supported the chemical analyses

Trans Fatty Acids in Foods in Europe: The TRANSFAIR Study

One of the aims of the TRANSFAIR study is to provide reliable and comparable data ontransfatty acid (TFA) content of foods in Europe. We performed a market basket study in 14 European countries. In each country, a maximum of 100 food samples representative of the total fat intake were sampled according to a standardized stepwise approach. Samples were analyzed for fat content and fatty acid composition in one central laboratory. This paper describes the design of the market basket study and the analytical methods. Detailed results of separate food groups are presented in the following four separate papers. The current health concern on TFA seems to have resulted in a number of consumer products like soft margarines that are low in TFA. On the other hand, shortenings, frying fats, and convenience foods are frequently high in TFA. There may not be a health benefit if a reduction in TFA is achieved by a similar increase in saturated fatty acid. Moreover, health implications are dependent on overall consumption patterns and these will be studied in the second part of the TRANSFAIR study. © 1998 Academic Press