May 17, 2010

If you have not heard, trans fats are simply not good for you in terms of your health. But if you’re a woman, what you may not know is that they are especially not good for your reproductive health. There is an increasing link between endometriosis in women who regularly consume foods with trans fats. In fact, recent studies have found that the diets highest in trans fats show a 48 percent higher risk of endometriosis. “These associations suggest that diet, a potentially modifiable lifestyle factor, may be important in the pathogenesis of endometriosis,” wrote the researchers.

On the contrary, Omega-3s, a significant health addition to all diets as commonly touted by scientists and health institutions, showed a significant decrease in the risk of endometriosis in women with diets low in trans fats and high in Omega-3s. Furthermore, These study subjects showed a 22 percent lower risk of having any sort of women’s reproductive health or endometriosis.

Based on this recent study initiated by the US National Institutes of Health, it’s recommended by many that American consumers should be making some changes to their diets, specifically to include less trans fats and more omega-3s. This, of course, is merely a suggestion as the US has yet to adapt a national strategy to helping consumers eat less harmful trans fats, as is practice in the UK. Moreover, the study, though thoroughly accurate, has been reported as “observational” by Barbara Gallani, Director of Food Safety and Science at the Food and Drink Federation, and not a direct measure of cause and effect. “Observational studies are helpful in showing associations but in this instance may simply mean that high TFA intake is a marker of a poor diet and probably lifestyle, which will potentially impact on many aspects of health.”

“It is also important to bear in mind that this US study bears no resemblance to the UK market, where artificial trans fats have been virtually eliminated from processed foods, due to a significant focus on reformulation by UK food manufacturers.”