Dietary Fats and Risk of Sudden cardiac Death in Women

A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that women eating too much saturated fatty acids may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

The study led by Stephanie E Chiuve of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues showed that those who had highest intake of saturated fatty acids were 44 percent more likely to suffer sudden cardiac death, compared with those who had the lowest intake.

Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were inversely associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death in previous research. But whether or not other fats are associated with sudden cardiac death and high intake of omega-6 fatty acids may reduce the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids remained unclear, the researchers wrote in their report.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study of 91,981 women aged 34 to 59 years. During a 30-year follow-up, 385 sudden cardiac death were recorded.

In addition to the positive link between saturated fat intake and risk of sudden cardiac death, highest intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids was associated with 43 percent reduced risk of sudden cardiac death, compared to those who had the lowest intake.

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