T. Colin Campbell
Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Cornell University
Title: What does dietary fat really mean for human health?
Biography
Biography: T. Colin Campbell
Abstract
Dietary lipid has long been considered a risk factor for Western diseases in humans, like certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, saturated fats, commonly associated with animal-based foods, are of more concern than unsaturated fats, commonly associated with plant-based foods. Dietary cholesterol, exclusively found in animal-based foods, also has long been considered a cause of heart disease. Almost certainly, this is an oversimplification and a source of great confusion and debate. People who promote plant based diets attempt to substantially reduce and even avoid saturated fat and cholesterol consumption whereas people who use animal based foods generally remain unconcerned and even defend the consumption of diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol. About a century ago, for example, a series of experimental animal (rabbit) studies showed that cholesterol consumption was not a significant cause either of increased blood cholesterol and early atherogenesis. Diets rich in animal protein were much more significant causes of these diseases. Additionally, the type and level of dietary fat and protein are important considerations and these will be discussed.