Different kinds of fats in your diet can have a dramatic impact on your risk of developing cardiovascular problems. Fully hydrogenated fats may not have as dramatic an impact on HDL cholesterol levels as partially hydrogenated fats, but they can impair some of the good properties of HDL cholesterol. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian if you are concerned about the levels of fat in your diet.
What Are Hydrogenated Oils?
The "hydrogenation" of fats refers to the chemical process of adding hydrogen molecules to these fats. The process of hydrogenation converts unsaturated fats to saturated fats. This changes the chemical properties of these oils and makes them less likely to spoil. Hydrogenated fats are dangerous because partial hydrogenation of fats creates "trans fats," which can greatly increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Completely hydrogenated oils do not have any trans fats and instead are essentially saturated fats.
Hydrogenated Oils and HDL
HDL cholesterol, also known as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is known as the "good" cholesterol because high levels of it reduce your risk of developing atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems. Partially hydrogenated oils are dangerous because they reduce the levels of HDL cholesterol. However, fully hydrogenated oils, also known as saturated fats, do not have a significant effect on your HDL cholesterol levels.
Saturated Fat and HDL Properties
Although saturated fat does not directly lower your HDL levels, it may decrease some of the beneficial effects of this kind of cholesterol. One of the main benefits of HDL cholesterol is that it can reduce inflammation, helping to prevent atherosclerosis. According to a 2006 article in the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology," consuming saturated fat reduces some of the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL cholesterol. This represents a potential mechanism by which saturated fat can increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis.
Considerations
Although fully hydrogenated oils are unlikely to significantly lower your HDL levels, you should still avoid foods that are high in saturated fat. Saturated fat increases your total cholesterol and LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, foods that only list "hydrogenated vegetable oils" on their ingredients may contain trans fats, which will lower your HDL cholesterol levels. If you are concerned about your risk of cardiovascular disease, talk to a doctor or nutritionist to learn about ways that you can protect your heart with your diet.
References
- MayoClinic.com Trans fat is double trouble for your heart health.
- American Heart Association: Know Your Fats
- "Journal of the American College of Cardiology" Consumption of Saturated Fat Impairs the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of High-Density Lipoproteins and Endothelial Function; Nicholls et al.; August 2006
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