Trans FatTrans Fat

By Christie DoschBy Christie Dosch

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

►Fat 101Fat 101► IndustryIndustry►HealthHealth►GovernmentGovernment►AlternativesAlternatives

FAT 101: Cholesterol vs. FatFAT 101: Cholesterol vs. Fat

► Cholesterol StructureCholesterol Structure Low density lipoprotein (LDL)Low density lipoprotein (LDL)

► Transports dietary cholesterol around the bodyTransports dietary cholesterol around the body► High levels correlates with increased cardiovascular High levels correlates with increased cardiovascular

riskrisk

High density lipoprotein (HDL)High density lipoprotein (HDL)► Transports phospholipids around the bodyTransports phospholipids around the body► Cardio protective at high levelsCardio protective at high levels

Fat 101: Types of FatFat 101: Types of Fat

►Saturated FatSaturated Fat►Monounsaturated FatMonounsaturated Fat►Polyunsaturated FatPolyunsaturated Fat

Essential Fatty AcidsEssential Fatty Acids

►Trans FatTrans Fat

Fat 101: Saturated FatFat 101: Saturated Fat

►Structure-contains no double bonds in Structure-contains no double bonds in fatty acid chainfatty acid chain

►American Diet contains 14-18%American Diet contains 14-18%►Found in animal products like meat, Found in animal products like meat,

poultry, butter and whole milkpoultry, butter and whole milk►SF can raise the level of LDL cholesterolSF can raise the level of LDL cholesterol

If LDL and HDL are at appropriate levels, then If LDL and HDL are at appropriate levels, then monitoring SF has little affect on healthmonitoring SF has little affect on health

Fat 101: Monounsaturated Fat 101: Monounsaturated FatFat

►Structure-contains one single double Structure-contains one single double bondbond

►Found in plant products such as olive, Found in plant products such as olive, canola, and peanut oilcanola, and peanut oil

►Good Fat Good Fat Raises HDLRaises HDL Lowers LDLLowers LDL Lowers triglyceridesLowers triglycerides

Fat 101: Polyunsaturated FatFat 101: Polyunsaturated Fat

►Structure-contains two or more double Structure-contains two or more double bonds in bonds in ciscis configuration configuration

►Found in vegetable oils, fish sources, Found in vegetable oils, fish sources, nuts and seedsnuts and seeds

►Lowers risk of cardiovascular diseaseLowers risk of cardiovascular disease►Essential Fatty AcidsEssential Fatty Acids

Fat 101: Essential Fatty Fat 101: Essential Fatty AcidsAcids

► Must be consumed, need .3g/kg body wt/dayMust be consumed, need .3g/kg body wt/day► Help with SF and cholesterol breakdownHelp with SF and cholesterol breakdown► Ideal ratio of 1:4, most Americans get 1:15Ideal ratio of 1:4, most Americans get 1:15► Omega 3Omega 3

Found in flaxseeds, olives, walnuts, fish, and Found in flaxseeds, olives, walnuts, fish, and soybeanssoybeans

Chief acid-linolenic acidChief acid-linolenic acid

► Omega 6Omega 6 Found in safflower, sunflower, and corn oilsFound in safflower, sunflower, and corn oils Chief acid-linoleic acidChief acid-linoleic acid

Fat 101: Trans FatFat 101: Trans Fat

►Polyunsaturated Fat in Polyunsaturated Fat in transtrans configurationconfiguration

►Exists mainly in processed oils/fats Exists mainly in processed oils/fats (hydrogenation process)(hydrogenation process)

► Important to food and pharmaceutical Important to food and pharmaceutical industriesindustries

►Detrimental to health?Detrimental to health?

Hydrogenation ProcessHydrogenation Process

► High heat and High heat and pressurepressure

► Many different types Many different types of metal catalystsof metal catalysts

► Amount of Amount of hydrogenation hydrogenation controllablecontrollable

► Heat weakens double Heat weakens double bonds giving some bonds giving some trans configurationtrans configuration

The BeginningThe Beginning

►Originally patented in 1902 Originally patented in 1902 by Wilhelm Normann by Wilhelm Normann

►Process changes Process changes consistency of fatconsistency of fat

►Oil hydrogenation is now a Oil hydrogenation is now a 15 MM ton/yr industry15 MM ton/yr industry Wilhelm Normann

1870-1939

Ni

Industrial NeedIndustrial Need

►Unsaturated oils oxidize easilyUnsaturated oils oxidize easily Leads to rancidityLeads to rancidity Very short shelf lifeVery short shelf life

►Saturated and unsaturated fats are a Saturated and unsaturated fats are a difficult consistency for food difficult consistency for food processingprocessing Solid with high melting pointsSolid with high melting points Liquid, does not stay in product well and Liquid, does not stay in product well and

can give soggy texturecan give soggy texture

Industrial SolutionIndustrial Solution

►Partially hydrogenated oilsPartially hydrogenated oils Gives better texture for crackers and Gives better texture for crackers and

cookiescookies Extends shelf life of both oil and products Extends shelf life of both oil and products

containing that oilcontaining that oil Easier to manipulate during food Easier to manipulate during food

processingprocessing Helped remove saturated fats from many Helped remove saturated fats from many

productsproducts

What is trans fat in?What is trans fat in?

►Almost all processed foods!!Almost all processed foods!!►Average American consumes 5g/dayAverage American consumes 5g/day

Major Food Sources of Trans Fat Major Food Sources of Trans Fat for American Adultsfor American Adults

Affect the Human Body?Affect the Human Body?

► How Unsaturated How Unsaturated Fats decompose:Fats decompose:

► Trans fats can not Trans fats can not release any useful release any useful mediatorsmediators Strange shape keeps Strange shape keeps

them from being them from being recognized by recognized by enzymesenzymes

Infiltrate cell wall and Infiltrate cell wall and cause malformations cause malformations and decrease and decrease functionalityfunctionality

Produces mediators that have beneficial physiological effects

Affect the Human Body?Affect the Human Body?

►Bad for your HeartBad for your Heart Raise LDL Raise LDL Lower HDL Lower HDL Raise triglycerideRaise triglyceride

►Linked with insulin resistance Linked with insulin resistance DiabetesDiabetes HypertensionHypertension Cardiovascular DiseaseCardiovascular Disease

Affect the Human Body?Affect the Human Body?

►Bad for your brain!Bad for your brain! Neural tissue is mainly made of lipidsNeural tissue is mainly made of lipids

►Trans fat can infiltrate the cell wall or neuron Trans fat can infiltrate the cell wall or neuron protective sheathprotective sheath

►Replace DHA in brain, causing decrease in Replace DHA in brain, causing decrease in electrical activity of neuronselectrical activity of neurons

Linked to neurodegenerative disordersLinked to neurodegenerative disorders►Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis►Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease►Parkinson’s DiseaseParkinson’s Disease

Government Stance?Government Stance?

►FDA: trans fat FDA: trans fat labeled by January labeled by January 20062006

►Europe and Europe and Canada already Canada already have regulations in have regulations in placeplace

►Denmark outlaws Denmark outlaws trans fat in almost trans fat in almost all foodsall foods

Industry AlternativesIndustry Alternatives

►Process alternativesProcess alternatives Blending hydrogenated fats with Blending hydrogenated fats with

unsaturated fatsunsaturated fats Interesterification of SF and UFInteresterification of SF and UF Stabilize unprocessed vegetable oils Stabilize unprocessed vegetable oils

through biotechnology and breedingthrough biotechnology and breeding Use of jelling or texture building agentsUse of jelling or texture building agents Use antioxidants to stabilize oilsUse antioxidants to stabilize oils Lowered pressure and temperatureLowered pressure and temperature

Company ProfileCompany Profile

►Kraft FoodsKraft Foods Law suit filed by BanTransFat in May 2003Law suit filed by BanTransFat in May 2003 Dropped quickly b/c Kraft agreed to Dropped quickly b/c Kraft agreed to

►stop advertising trans fats food to children in stop advertising trans fats food to children in schools, specifically Oreosschools, specifically Oreos

►Make an effort to minimize trans fat in all Make an effort to minimize trans fat in all productsproducts

►Make an effort to educate consumersMake an effort to educate consumers

Company ProfileCompany Profile

►Actively searching new alternative fatsActively searching new alternative fats Personal experience at NabiscoPersonal experience at Nabisco

►Nutrition DriversNutrition Drivers Internal regulations setting a standard on Internal regulations setting a standard on

nutritionnutrition►Any product that fails cannot be advertised to Any product that fails cannot be advertised to

childrenchildren

Consumer AlternativesConsumer Alternatives

► Increased variety of trans fat free foodsIncreased variety of trans fat free foods►Choose fat free/low fat products Choose fat free/low fat products ►Watch for trans fat in nutrition labelWatch for trans fat in nutrition label►Look for partially hydrogenated oil in Look for partially hydrogenated oil in

ingredient statementingredient statement►Cook with virgin oils like olive or canolaCook with virgin oils like olive or canola►Eat fresh foods!!Eat fresh foods!!

ReferencesReferences

► http://www.iseo.org/trans_fats.htmhttp://www.iseo.org/trans_fats.htm► http://www.cyberlipid.org/glycer/glyc0011.htmhttp://www.cyberlipid.org/glycer/glyc0011.htm► http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/1115/cm1503/lipihttp://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/1115/cm1503/lipi

ds.htmds.htm► http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alkenes/http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alkenes/

hydrogenation.htmlhydrogenation.html► http://www.kraft.com/responsibility/nhw_productnuthttp://www.kraft.com/responsibility/nhw_productnut

rition.aspxrition.aspx► http://www.bantransfats.com/theoreocase.htmlhttp://www.bantransfats.com/theoreocase.html► http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.htmlhttp://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.html► http://www.umm.edu/features/transfats.htmlhttp://www.umm.edu/features/transfats.html► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat► http://www.cyberparent.com/nutrition/hydrogenatehttp://www.cyberparent.com/nutrition/hydrogenate

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