Mono unsaturated fatty acids for CVD and diabetes: A healthy choice

Abstract

The focus of present scientific discussion is still the question on how to optimize the dietary fat intake in order to achieve maximum health benefits, that is, what is the optimum amount and composition of dietary fat. Over the past few years, there have been plenty of new findings concerning the various effects and modes of action of different fatty acids giving details on their specific role in health and diseases. Fatty acids are now known to not only play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases via their effect on serum lipids but also because they directly influence a number of other risk factors in various ways and have direct effect on atherogenesis. Therefore, the health effects of dietary fat have to be judged according to its respective fatty acid composition. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that dietary monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) may have a beneficial health effect. This article summarizes present knowledge concerning the effects of mono unsaturated fatty acids with a focus on their role in coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, and their risk factors.