Intake of trans-fats among US youth declined from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010

Abstract

Objective: To analyse how much the intake of trans-fatty acids (TFA), an important dietary risk factor for CVD, changed among US children and adolescents over a period of time when food regulations that reduced the presence of TFA in the food supply were enacted.Design: Regression models were used to estimate changes in levels of TFA in plasma and other CVD risk factors among US children and adolescents from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010.Setting: USA.Participants: Nationally representative sample of children (aged 6-11 years) and adolescents (aged 12-19 years) who participated in the 1999-2000 and 2009-2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Results: Levels of plasma TFA declined significantly by an average of 61·9 % from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010. The average decline in a TFA commonly found in partially hydrogenated oils (elaidic acid, 67·2 %) was larger than the average decline in a TFA naturally occurring in ruminant animals (vaccenic acid, 60·5 %). Significant improvements in a variety of other CVD risk factors (LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, TAG, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein) were also observed.Conclusions: Between the two time points, 1999-2000 and 2009-2010, there were substantial decreases in plasma TFA levels and improvements in several other important CVD risk factors in the population of US children and adolescents.