Safer Fats for Healthier Hearts: The Case for Eliminating Dietary Artificial Trans Fat Intake
Authors: Julie Louise Gerberding
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Editorials21 July 2009Safer Fats for Healthier Hearts: The Case for Eliminating Dietary Artificial Trans Fat IntakeJulie Louise Gerberding, MD, MPHJulie Louise Gerberding, MD, MPHDr. Gerberding is the Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-2-200907210-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In 2003, Tiburon, California (a small community in Marin County, just north of San Francisco), initiated a successful effort to voluntarily eliminate trans fatty acids from the cooking oils used in its 18 local restaurants (1). Since then, many city and state governments across the United States are following suit, and they are struggling with the controversies inherent in defining their role in reducing the fat content of foods prepared and served in their communities. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's trans fat restriction program (described by Angell and colleagues in this issue [2]) provides a ...References1. Staats J. Tiburon's trans-fat ban started national movement. Marin Independent Journal. 3 February 2007. Accessed at www.marinij.com/fastsearchresults/ci_5155266 on 23 June 2009. Google Scholar2. Angell SY, Silver LD, Goldstein GP, Johnson CM, Deitcher DR, Frieden TR, et al. Cholesterol control beyond the clinic: New York City's trans fat restriction. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151:129-34. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Eckel RH, Borra S, Lichtenstein AH, Yin-Piazza SY; Trans Fat Conference Planning Group. Understanding the complexity of trans fatty acid reduction in the American diet: American Heart Association Trans Fat Conference 2006: report of the Trans Fat Conference Planning Group. Circulation. 2007;115:2231-46. [PMID: 17426064] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Mozaffarian D, Katan MB, Ascherio A, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:1601-13. [PMID: 16611951] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Panel on Macronutrients. Institute of Medicine, eds. Letter report on dietary reference intakes for trans fatty acids.. In: Institute of Medicine, eds. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2002. Google Scholar6. Food and Drug Administration. HHS. Food labeling: trans fatty acids in nutrition labeling, nutrient content claims, and health claims. Final rule. Fed Regist. 2003;68:41433-1506. [PMID: 12856667] MedlineGoogle Scholar7. Leth T, Jensen HG, Mikkelsen AA, Bysted A. The effect of the regulation on trans fatty acid content in Danish food. Atheroscler Suppl. 2006;7:53-6. [PMID: 16713397] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Dr. Gerberding is the Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329.Disclosures: Dr. Gerberding has provided public health consultation to Edelman, a public engagement firm with clients in the food industry.Corresponding Author: Julie Louise Gerberding, MD, MPH, 2484 Briarcliff Road, Suite 22-188, Atlanta, GA 30329; e-mail, JulieGerberdingMD.[email protected]com. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCholesterol Control Beyond the Clinic: New York City's Trans Fat Restriction Sonia Y. Angell , Lynn Dee Silver , Gail P. Goldstein , Christine M. Johnson , Deborah R. Deitcher , Thomas R. Frieden , and Mary T. Bassett Determining the Benefits of the New York City Trans Fat Ban Gilbert L. Ross Determining the Benefits of the New York City Trans Fat Ban Sonia Y. Angell , Lynn Dee Silver , and Gail P. Goldstein Metrics Cited ByFrom Denmark to Delhi: the multisectoral challenge of regulating trans fats in IndiaDevelopment and Evaluation of a Brief Questionnaire to Assess Dietary Fat Quality in Low-income Overweight Women in the Southern United StatesAutophagy regulates trans fatty acid-mediated apoptosis in primary cardiac myofibroblastsComposition of fatty acids in selected sorts of biscuits, offered for childrenOverweight, Obesity, and Cardiovascular RiskDietary Lipids and Coronary Heart DiseaseA 'Nudge' for Public Health Ethics: Libertarian Paternalism as a Framework for Ethical Analysis of Public Health Interventions?Determining the Benefits of the New York City Trans Fat BanGilbert L. Ross, MDDetermining the Benefits of the New York City Trans Fat BanSonia Y. Angell, MD, MPH, Lynn Dee Silver, MD, MPH, and Gail P. Goldstein, MPH 21 July 2009Volume 151, Issue 2Page: 137-138KeywordsCardiovascular therapyFatsFatty acidsFoodHeartLipidsOilsPrevention, policy, and public healthPsychiatry and mental health ePublished: 21 July 2009 Issue Published: 21 July 2009 CopyrightCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...