Fact check: do saturated fats really not harm the heart?

A widely shared health claim holds that saturated fatty acids, one of the main groups of dietary fats, do not harm heart health. A fact check has rated this claim as lacking context.

What is claimed

The claim has three parts. First, saturated fatty acids are said to be harmless to the heart. Second, people who eat more of them are said to live longer. Third, there is supposedly no such thing as "bad" and "good" cholesterol.

What the research shows

The fact check concludes that the claim is not fully accurate. A number of studies indicate that saturated fatty acids raise the risk of cardiovascular events, meaning they may be linked to heart and blood vessel problems.

On mortality, the picture is less clear-cut. In studies, saturated fatty acid intake either correlates with higher mortality or has no effect on it. The data therefore do not support the idea that eating more of them leads to a longer life.

As for cholesterol, the fact check states that "bad" cholesterol can harm health when present in excessive amounts. The assertion that this distinction does not exist is therefore misleading.

Why it matters

Simplified claims about nutrition spread easily. In this case, the check indicates that a complete exoneration of saturated fats does not match the overall body of research.