Daily HealthBeat Tip

What�s up with low fat?

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I�m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Eat a low-fat diet with lots of fruit, vegetables and grains. That�s standard dietary advice. But now some people wonder if the advice stands up.

Three studies of post-menopausal women were in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The studies were supported by the National Institutes of Health.

In something of a surprise, researchers said women on a low-fat diet didn�t reduce their risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, heart disease or stroke.

But there still were indications of some benefits. Ross Prentice of Seattle�s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center:

"We see, among women that started with a relatively high-fat diet, we have stronger evidence of a reduction in breast cancer risk." (six seconds)

Federal health officials say current recommendations stand. They emphasize cutting cholesterol, and saturated and trans fats.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: February 27, 2006

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