Nutritional Importance of Dietary fat

Nutritional Importance of Dietary fat

Dietary Fats and the nutrients associated with it play a critical role in health and functioning of the human body

    Required for Growth, Repair/maintenance/Resistance.

Source of

      Essential fatty acids

      ß-carotene (precursor of vitamin A)

      Vitamin “E” (natural antioxidant)

      Energy( 9.5 kcal/g) Carbohydrate and Protein (4kcal/g)

      Body Insulators

      Chemical Messengers

      Carrier of fat soluble vitamins and lipoprotein

Problems of excessive intake

      Obesity (waist size indicates risk of diabetes)

      Coronary heart disease

      Certain types of cancer

      Hypercholesterolemia

      High B.P

       Gout

       Diabetes

Clot formation

Potential risk Factors

Adults require = 2400 calories daily, 1/3 of that (850) should come  from fat. But our  Average  daily consumption = 40-46 g which provides about 422 calories energy from fat only. As a nation we are deficit of ≥ 430 calories

In spite of the fact  fats consumption is lesser than the required levels, but  fat related ailments are on the  rise in our society

Probably because

•          Lack of awareness about the quality of fats

•          Nobody bother about the type of fat being eating in food

•          Unhealthy life style

•          Lack of physical activity

•          Nature of work and food habits

•         Nutritional education

•          Poverty

•          Junk food culture

•          Less fiber intake

Facts About Cholesterol

Confusion about role and function of cholesterol

      Type of fat, found in every cell of body, more in brain, liver, kidney, nerve fiber.

       Normal value 180-200mg%,

      Synthesized in intestine, liver and skin

      Body produce 800-1500mg cholesterol daily, 80% by liver and 20% by food, control by auto regulatory system.

      Precursor of bile salts essential for  digestion /absorption of fat soluble vitamins.

      Essential component of  cell membrane & steroid  hormones, bile acids and vitamin D.

      Necessary for production of lipoproteins for transport of lipids in blood.

      Fats and oils from plant sources

      contain only traces of cholesterol

      Low cholesterol level   associated with poor performance on cognitive measures and a risk factor for aggression in school going kids

         (Am.J.Epidemology2012)

Good & Bad  Cholesterol

¯  HDL Good cholesterol  cardio protective as takes cholesterol out of blood

N  LDL Bad cholesterol cardio destructive takes cholesterol into the blood and causes  blocking arteries, thrombosis, heart failure and stroke. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is main culprit of CVD.

N  Blood cholesterol alone dose not give complete picture of CVD.The determination is the proportion of LDL/HDL present in blood