TY - JOUR
T1 - Palm oil and palmitic acid
T2 - A review on cardiovascular effects and carcinogenicity
AU - Fattore, Elena
AU - Fanelli, Roberto
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - We reviewed the scientific literature on the evidence of the relationship between palm oil and adverse effects on human health. Few studies have investigated the effects of palm oil per se, and the main reason why it has been associated with negative health effects is the relatively high content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), particularly palmitic acid, which in turn have been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and some tumours. However, more recent investigations on the topic seem to have reconsidered the negative role of the dietary SFAs as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and show that not only the type of fat, but also that the triglyceride structure plays a role in cholesterolaemia. As regards to a role in cancer, specific studies on dietary palmitic acid or palm oil and the risk of cancer development are scanty, and the evidence is not convincing.
AB - We reviewed the scientific literature on the evidence of the relationship between palm oil and adverse effects on human health. Few studies have investigated the effects of palm oil per se, and the main reason why it has been associated with negative health effects is the relatively high content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), particularly palmitic acid, which in turn have been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and some tumours. However, more recent investigations on the topic seem to have reconsidered the negative role of the dietary SFAs as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and show that not only the type of fat, but also that the triglyceride structure plays a role in cholesterolaemia. As regards to a role in cancer, specific studies on dietary palmitic acid or palm oil and the risk of cancer development are scanty, and the evidence is not convincing.
KW - Cancer
KW - Cardiovascular diseases
KW - Interesterification
KW - Saturated fatty acids
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880342860&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.3109/09637486.2013.768213
DO - 10.3109/09637486.2013.768213
M3 - Article
C2 - 23406428
AN - SCOPUS:84880342860
VL - 64
SP - 648
EP - 659
JO - International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
JF - International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
SN - 0963-7486
IS - 5
ER -