Blood fat profiles reveal health benefits of replacing butter with high-quality plant oils

A recent study in *Nature Medicine* from Chalmers University of Technology, the German Institute of Human Nutrition, and other institutions, reveals that switching from saturated animal fats to plant-based unsaturated fats can significantly alter blood fat composition and impact long-term disease risk. This research confirms the health benefits of diets like the Mediterranean diet and provides a new way to assess dietary impacts on cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

The study used lipidomics to measure detailed blood fats and linked these measurements to disease risks. In a 16-week intervention at the University of Reading, participants on high unsaturated plant fats showed a healthier blood fat profile compared to those on high saturated fats. This profile, reflected by a multi-lipid score (MLS), was associated with a lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases in long-term observational studies.

The study highlights that adopting a diet high in unsaturated fats, especially for those with initially high saturated fat intake, can offer significant health benefits.