Eating too much fat boosts stroke risk
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A new study conducted in Denmark suggests eating too much fat can increase risk of ischemic stroke in men and women and high intake of cholesterol may boost risk of stroke in men.
Dr. Marianne Benn from Copenhagen University Hospital found high levels of non-fasting triglycerides was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke in men and women and higher serum cholesterol was correlated with the risk in men.
The findings were published in the Annals of Neurology.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic stroke, caused by the build-up of fatty plaque on the inner walls of blood vessels, a process called atherosclerosis.
For the study, Benn followed 7579 women and 6372 men who participated in the Copenhagen City Heart Study for 33 years to identify stroke cases. Participants had their non-fasting triglycerides and cholesterol measured at the start of the study in 1976 to 1978.
During the follow-up, 837 women and 837 men suffered ischemic stroke.
Results confirmed in both women and men, stepwise increasing levels of non-fasting triglycerides associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke.
Women with triglycerides levels of 1-2 nmol/L or 89-177 mg/dL were 20 percent more likely to suffer ischemic stroke compared with women who had less than 1 mmol/L or 89 mg/dL of triglycerides.
Women who had 5 mmol/L or 443 mg/dL or higher of trigllycerides were nearly four times as likely as those who had 1 mmol/L or 89 mg/dL of triglycerides to suffer stroke.
For men with similar levels of triglycerides, the increases were 20 to 130 percent higher.
Cholesterol levels were generally not associated with greater risk of ischemic stroke. In men whose cholesterol levels were equal to 9 mmol/L or 348 mg/dL or higher, however, the risk was found 4.4 times higher.
"Our findings suggest that levels of non-fasting triglycerides should be included in stroke prevention guidelines which currently focus on total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels," concluded Benn.
The American Heart Association says triglycerides can come from a person's diet or fat and can also be made from energy sources like carbohydrates.
One measure the AHA recommends to lower the level of triglycerides in the blood, is to lower dietary intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.
By David Liu and editing by Aimee Keenan-Greene
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