At the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, a new study presented that consuming trans fats is linked to diminished memory in adults of working age.  Researchers looked at men aged 20 or older and postmenopausal women.  Both groups were made of adults that had not been diagnosed with heart disease.  The study, which was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Results show that men under age 45 that ate more trans fat performed notably worse on a word memory test, even when adjusting for demographic and other health factors.  Each additional daily gram of trans fats consumed was correlated with a .76 fewer words recalled.  Between the highest and lowest levels of trans fat consumption, there was a difference of 10 percent in the number of words recalled.  More research is needed, particularly in younger women, to understand how trans fats affect females.

According to the American Heart Association, there are two types of trans fats that are found in food – those that are naturally occurring and those that are artificially produced.  Trans fats affect health by lowering good cholesterol, increasing bad cholesterol, and increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, having a stroke, or developing heart disease.  However, research on trans fats is relatively new.  Only after 1990 did research begin looking at adverse health effects of trans fat consumption, which prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to institute labeling requirements for trans fats.

Small amounts of trans fats occur naturally in some meat and dairy products, such as beef and butterfat.  Artificial trans fats are found in a number of foods such as doughnuts, frozen pizza, cookies, and margarine sticks.  To identify foods with trans fat, look for “partially hydrogenated oils” on the ingredient list.