According to health authorities, saturated fat is a cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death.

But is this true?

In this book, the author examines the evidence and concludes otherwise: There is no credible evidence that saturated fat is harmful.

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In Chapter 1, we will examine the ecological evidence, including lessons from the Seven Countries Study, the MONICA Project, and nonindustrialized populations.

Chapter 2 summarizes the evidence from prospective cohorts. When combined, these cohorts can tell us, with high statistical power, whether saturated fat is associated with harmful outcomes.

Chapter 3 explains why associations and statistical adjustments cannot establish cause and effect. To establish the latter, we must go a step further and use inductive reasoning or causal considerations. Here, I introduce Hill’s causal “criteria.”

In Chapters 4 to 10, I apply Hill’s criteria to determine whether a causal effect exists between saturated fat and clinical outcomes. For each chapter, I explain what the relevant criterion means and how it applies to the observational data on saturated fat.

Chapter 11 summarizes the findings from Hill’s criteria and asks whether the overall evidence supports a causal relationship. Also, for the first time in any publication, I show that my conclusions on saturated fat are consistent with modern causal theories (counterfactual, regularity, etc.).

Chapters 12 and 13 provide analyses of randomized controlled trials comparing saturated fat to either carbohydrates or polyunsaturated fat. Besides saturated fat, these chapters also inform us about specific “heart-healthy” foods, including whole grains, vegetables, and seed oils.

In Chapters 14 and 15, I analyze three dietary trials that appear to support the diet-heart hypothesis.

Chapter 16 summarizes the trial evidence. We will find a summary for each clinical endpoint, including all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes.

Chapter 17 provides a critique of an influential study that claimed a benefit for lowering saturated fat (i.e., Cochrane’s saturated fat meta-analysis).

Chapter 18 concludes the book and suggests lifestyle changes that may prevent cardiovascular disease and premature death.

The LDL Scam: A Critique of the European Atherosclerosis Society “Consensus” Paper