A study indicates that the risk of developing breast cancer is almost doubled among women whose blood contains large amounts of trans fatty acids. Already accused of promoting cardiovascular disease, these compounds, which are found mainly in industrial products (such as pastries and margarines) find themselves again in the spotlight.
The city of New York has banned residence in restaurants. The Denmark has virtually excluded from the food. Europe is studying the problem. The AFSSA (Agence French food safety) recommends to avoid them. The trans fatty acids or TFA, are under investigation everywhere. They seem well increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and, according to a recent study by the INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research) and the Institut Gustave Roussy, which has just been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, they would also be involved in the development of breast cancer in industrialized countries.
The AGT are unsaturated fatty acids, those that say most beneficial to our health than saturated fatty acids. Present in animal fat, they promote the production of bad cholesterol, LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). The unsaturated fatty acids, found in fish, plants and various vegetable oils (olive and rapeseed in particular), encourage them, the good cholesterol (HDL, High Density Lipoproteins).
Some fats convenient
But all is not so simple. The natural unsaturated fatty acids are usually some form, called cis, while those produced by the food industry in general have another, called trans. This seemingly small difference is crucial for the effects on our body. Since 1990, is suspected trans fatty acids promote the formation of bad cholesterol even inhibit the good.
AGT These are very present in our diet. Made naturally in the stomach of ruminants (a bacteria that begin the digestion of grass for the benefit of the animal), they are found in milk and all dairy products, but in relatively small quantities. The main source in developed countries comes from the food industry. The process called partial hydrogenation have manufactured fats from vegetable oils liquids. This technique is used convenient to make a quantity of products such as margarines and spreads. It offers an excellent softness and Conservation at the pastries, cakes, biscuits, chocolate bar, chips, crackers, prepared meals ... The quantities of AGT are sometimes very high.
The difference between a fatty acid cis and trans fatty acid is up to the shape of the molecule, articulated in one way or the other at a double bond between carbon atoms (a characteristic of a liaison unsaturated fatty acid). © Lawrence Chasin / Deborah Mowshowitz / Department of Biological Sciences / Columbia University
The labelling rarely mentions, in the words "hydrogenated fats" but this precision is not mandatory. The industrialists themselves have already begun to look at alternatives but the movement appears to be rather slow.
Should avoid the trans
The study which has just been published accelerate maybe. It targeted the impact of different types of fatty acids on the development of breast cancer. The researchers used blood tests conducted between 1995 and 1998 among 25,000 women forming part of the study E3N. This extensive research program monitors since 1990 with a population of 100,000 women (a cohort in the jargon of statisticians), adhering to the Mutual General of National Education. It is itself part of a larger European study (Epic).
The team of Inserm and the Institut Gustave Roussy looked at 363 women who developed breast cancer after blood samples. The researchers compared the rates of different fatty acids than 702 witnesses. Result: the rate of trans fatty acids seems to be linked to the risk of developing a tumour in the mammary gland to increase by nearly doubling the likelihood of an outbreak of the disease. "At this stage we can only recommend a reduction in consumption of manufactured goods, the source of trans fatty acids of industrial origin. In particular, it would limit industrial processes generating trans fats (partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) "indicate collectively researchers in the release of Inserm.
Anyway, these results are further strengthened the suspicion of the role of the environment and food in the frequency of breast cancers in developed countries