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Trans-fats and its effects on the human body

        You may have heard from many health magazines that trans-fats are really bad for human health. But have you wondered why this might be the case? What is it about the trans-fats that make them so bad that health magazines basically view them as the biggest villain of all the time? The answer lies in their chemical structure and how our bodies react to them. 

So what are trans-fats? Trans-fats are saturated fatty acids that contain a double bond in the trans (opposite) arrangement. Therefore this type of fat is known to have a ‘kink’ in them (1). Please refer to the image below to understand the difference between cis versus trans saturated fats. 

Image citation link: https://www.nutrientsreview.com/lipids/trans-fats.html


The image shows us that a simple difference in the placement of hydrogen atoms makes trans fat an unhealthy type of fat when compared to cis-saturated fat. As the central theme of biochemistry dictates that structure determines function, what seems to be a minor difference contributes to the huge change. According to the previous nutrition research studies, we understand that trans-fats are linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases. How do they contribute to the increased cardiovascular diseases? A study conducted at Wageningen University demonstrated that the participants who ingested trans fats had a higher concentration of LDL as compared to HDL1. Therefore it is evident that trans-fats help promote atherosclerosis in the individuals who consumed more trans-fats (2). 

Another study also suggested that trans-fats contribute towards the initiation of inflammation that ultimately results in atherosclerosis. Additionally, trans-fats are known to cause ER stress due to the high amount of reactive oxidative species (ROS)2. The reason why ER stress is problematic is that it can lead to the activation of unfolded protein response that induces cell apoptosis3 (2).

All the arguments provided in this blog should hopefully convince you to rethink consuming a high amount of trans-fats normally present in processed foods. It is, hence,  no surprise that trans-fats are considered to be the biggest villains of all times. The linkage of trans-fats to so many cardiovascular diseases serves as a valid piece of evidence to steer away from trans-fats. 

I seriously hope that you liked this blog. Stay tuned for another blog about biochemistry. 

Notes: 

  1. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) are types of cholesterol. HDL is regarded as the ‘good’ cholesterol as it helps with clearing off the building-up plaque in the arteries. Contrastingly, LDL is the ‘bad’ cholesterol as it helps in the accumulation of plaque in the arteries. 

  2. Many research studies suggest that a high concentration of ROS poses a challenge for cell survival. 

  3. Cell apoptosis means cell suicide.


Citations:

  1. Trans Fatty Acid Molecule. (2022). Retrieved January 7, 2022, from Worldofmolecules.com website: https://www.worldofmolecules.com/foods/trans_fatty_acids.htm

  2. Oteng, A.-B., & Kersten, S. (2019). Mechanisms of Action of trans Fatty Acids. Advances in Nutrition, 11(3), 697–708. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz125

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