Role of cis-Monounsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

The effects of cis-monounsaturated fatty acids (cis-MUFAs) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and on CHD mortality are not clear. Also, dietary recommendations for cis-MUFA as derived by various organizations are not in agreement. Earlier studies have mainly focused on the effects of cis-MUFA on serum lipids and lipoproteins. More recent studies, however, have also addressed effects of cis-MUFA on other non-traditional CHD risk markers such as vascular function markers, postprandial vascular function, and energy intake and metabolism. Although well-designed randomized controlled trials with CHD events as endpoints are missing, several large prospective cohort studies have recently been published on the relationship between cis-MUFA and CHD risk. The aim of this paper is to review these new studies that have been published in the last 3 years on the effects of cis-MUFA on cardiovascular risk markers and CHD.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Coronary heart disease; Monounsaturated fatty acids; Oleic acid; Risk markers.

Fig. 1

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are chemically classified as fatty acids that have one double bond in the carbon chain. In the cis-configuration, the hydrogen atoms attached to the double bond point into the same direction (top: oleic acid, a cis-MUFA with 18 carbon atoms), while in the trans-configuration, the hydrogen atoms are located on opposite sides (bottom: elaidic acid, a trans-MUFA with 18 carbon atoms)