Humana Health Watch Transcript Archive

December 11

Margarine vs. Butter

Before you begin your holiday cooking—you may want to consider substituting margarine for butter. A new study shows that you may be able to lower your family’s cholesterol by making this one change.

Folks probably know that margarine is better for your heart than butter, but the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that adults and children can benefit from making just one switch in diet—going from butter to margarine.

The researchers studied 46 families who followed two 5 week diets that were individualized for each member and that emphasized a low-saturated fat diet. The diet was supplemented by specially-baked goods and spreadable fat. In one diet regimen, only butter was used in the bakery products and spread; in the other diet, only margarine was used.

In both adults and children, the margarine diet was associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL levels — what’s considered the “bad” cholesterol. There was no change in HDL, or good cholesterol, levels. People who were heavier had less of a response, and members of any one family responded in a similar fashion. This information may be helpful in determining who will benefit most from changes in diet.

Interestingly, there was no change in body weight between the two diets, despite the change in cholesterol.

Does it matter what kind of margarine?

The authors used tub margarine, rather than stick, because stick margarine has more trans-fatty acids that can actually raise LDL levels.

Resources and References:

Journal of the American Medical Association
Individual Cholesterol Variation in Response to a Margarine- or Butter-Based Diet. 2000; 284:2740-2748.

December 11
Margarine vs. Butter
	Before you begin your holiday cooking—you may want to consider substituting margarine for butter. A new study shows that you may be able to lower your family’s cholesterol by making this one change. Folks probably know that margarine is better for your heart than butter, but the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that adults and children can benefit from making just one switch in diet—going from butter to margarine. The researchers studied 46 families who followed two 5 week diets that were individualized for each member and that emphasized a low-saturated fat diet. The diet was supplemented by specially-baked goods and spreadable fat. In one diet regimen, only butter was used in the bakery products and spread; in the other diet, only margarine was used. In both adults and children, the margarine diet was associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL levels — what’s considered the “bad” cholesterol. There was no change in HDL, or good cholesterol, levels. People who were heavier had less of a response, and members of any one family responded in a similar fashion. This information may be helpful in determining who will benefit most from changes in diet. Interestingly, there was no change in body weight between the two diets, despite the change in cholesterol.

	Does it matter what kind of margarine? The authors used tub margarine, rather than stick, because stick margarine has more trans-fatty acids that can actually raise LDL levels.
	Resources and References: Journal of the American Medical Association Individual Cholesterol Variation in Response to a Margarine- or Butter-Based Diet. 2000; 284:2740-2748.