Indian-origin cardiologist calls saturated fat heart disease 'myth'

UK cardiologist, Dr Aseem Malhotra, has said that the risk from saturated fat has been overstated.

He said that other factors like sugar intake had been overlooked.

Malhotra, a cardiology registrar at Croydon University Hospital, London, said that saturated fat had been “demonised” and any association with heart disease is not fully supported by scientific evidence, the BBC reported.

He said that the food industry has compensated for cutting saturated fat levels in food by replacing it with sugar, also a contributor to heart disease.

Malhotra said that turning towards Mediterranean diet - olive oil, nuts, oily fish, plenty of fruit and vegetables and a moderate amount of red wine - after a heart attack is thrice as powerful in reducing mortality as taking a statin.

The study has been published in British Medical Journal.