Disruption of prostaglandin production leads to an increased tendency to form blood clots, which can lead to myocardial infarction, which has reached epidemic levels in America. It has taken 30 years for research to get back on track. Now research is being reported on adverse effects from trans fatty acids related to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, low birth weight, obesity, and immune dysfunction. The research group I worked with at the University of Maryland found that trans fatty acids not only alter enzymes that neutralize carcinogens, and increase enzymes that potentiate carcinogens, but also depress milk fat production in nursing mothers and decrease insulin binding. In other words, trans fatty acids in the diet interfere with the ability of new mothers to nurse successfully and increase the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Unpublished work indicates that trans fatty acids contribute to osteoporosis.
T. Hanis, a Czechoslovakian researcher, found that trans fatty acid consumption decreased testosterone, caused the production of abnormal sperm and altered gestation. B. Koletzko, a German pediatric researcher found that excess trans fatty acid consumption in pregnant mothers predisposed them to low birth weight babies. Trans fatty acid consumption interferes with the body's use of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils, grains and green vegetables, leading to impaired prostaglandin production. George Mann confirmed that trans fatty acid consumption increases the incidence of heart disease. In 1995, European researchers found a positive correlation between- breast cancer rates and trans fatty acid consumption.