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Reduction in saturated fat intake for cardiovascular disease
Cochrane systematic review (15 RCTs, ~56,675 participants, ≥24 months): reducing saturated fat intake was associated with a 17% lower risk of combined cardiovascular events (RR 0.83) with moderate GRADE certainty, without clear effects on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.
Scope
Cochrane Review CD011737 (pub3 update): RCTs ≥24 months aiming to lower saturated fat vs higher SFA / usual diets in adults with mortality or CV morbidity data.
Primary pooled signal (abstract)
- Combined CV events: RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.70–0.98; 12 trials; 53,758 participants; ~8% experienced an event during trial; I² = 67%; GRADE moderate)
- NNTB (primary prevention): ~56 people need to lower SFA ~4 years for one fewer combined CV event (abstract narrative)
Mortality / substitution caveats
- All-cause mortality: RR 0.96 (95% CI 0.90–1.03; moderate GRADE)
- CV mortality: RR 0.95 (95% CI 0.80–1.12; moderate GRADE)
- Substitution: meta-regression suggests larger serum cholesterol drops track larger CV-event reductions; PUFA vs CHO replacement subgroup differences not clearly significant—MUFA / protein data sparse.
Publication
Hooper L, Martin N, Jimoh OF, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Aug 21;2020(8):CD011737. PMID 32827219.
Outcomes
- All-Cause Mortality RiskEvents: /
- All-Cause Mortality RiskEvents: /