Associations of Fat and Carbohydrate Intake With Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality

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This prospective population-based study used data from 195,658 participants in the UK Biobank study to examine the relationship between macronutrient intake and two outcomes, all-cause mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mean follow-up was 10.6 years, during which time 2.4% of participants died, 0.5% experienced a fatal CVD event, and 5.0% experienced a nonfatal CVD event. There was no association between carbohydrate intake and mortality when carbohydrate intake represented 20% to 50% of total intake, but a positive association developed when carbohydrate intake was 50% to 70% of total energy intake. Although this relationship was not present for starch or fiber, sugar intake showed a similar pattern to carbohydrate intake. Lower intake of polyunsaturated fat, lower intake of saturated fat, and higher intake of monounsaturated fat were all associated with a lower mortality risk.

This study found both linear and nonlinear relationships between macronutrient intake and both mortality risk and incident CVD disease. The authors suggest tailoring recommendations and carefully distinguishing types of macronutrients such as starch and sugar.