Expert casts doubt over the value of low-fat diet

Diets low in saturated fat do not prevent heart disease or improve health and, instead, public health warnings need to be issued over sugar, a leading scientist has said.

The fear that saturated fat raises cholesterol is “completely unfounded,” while the current recommendations to follow a low-fat diet are based on flawed evidence, he added.

Writing in the journal Open Heart, leading US cardiovascular research scientist Dr James DiNicolantonio said a “compelling argument can be made for the general lack of evidence in support of a low-fat diet”.