Cholesterol and saturated fats in burgers contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease risk (?)

By: Brian S. MH, MD (Alternative Med.)

Overview

Some scientists and modern medicine practitioners advocate the following idea based on findings:

Many studies examining the link between saturated fats and atherosclerosis include cholesterol as a critical constituent of foods like burgers or the Western diet, as both cholesterol and saturated fats are well-established contributors to atherosclerosis. Saturated fats can increase levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, which contributes to plaque buildup in arteries, while cholesterol in foods such as red meat, often found in burgers, directly raises circulating cholesterol levels. 

Below is a discussion of studies that explore these factors in the context of burgers and atherosclerosis, with a particular focus on cholesterol.

1. Saturated Fat and Cholesterol as Atherogenic Factors in Fast Food (Burgers)

Study: Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: a review of the evidence and its application to clinical practice (Siri-Tarino et al., 2010)

Findings: This study reviewed how dietary intake of saturated fats and trans fats—often found in fast foods like burgers—contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. The researchers emphasized that saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol levels, which is a key driver of atherogenesis. In the context of a Western diet, which frequently includes burgers, high cholesterol intake from these foods further exacerbates the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Elevated LDL cholesterol is critical in forming the plaques that narrow and harden arteries, leading to cardiovascular diseases.

Key Point: The combined intake of saturated fats and cholesterol from burgers significantly contributes to atherosclerosis due to their role in increasing LDL cholesterol.

2. Fast Food Meals and Atherogenesis

Study: Effect of a fast-food meal on postprandial endothelial function (Pivovarova et al., 2012)

Findings: This study explored how consuming a fast-food meal, including a burger, acutely affects endothelial function. While the primary focus was on the immediate response to a meal, it highlighted that fast foods like burgers not only contain high levels of saturated fats but also cholesterol, both of which negatively impact endothelial health and contribute to the long-term development of atherosclerosis. The endothelial cells lining the arteries are directly impacted by cholesterol and fat intake, initiating processes like inflammation and oxidative stress that are precursors to atherosclerosis.

Key Point: Cholesterol and saturated fat from fast-food meals (burgers) impair endothelial function, a key mechanism in the development of atherosclerosis.

3. Western Diet and Its Role in Atherosclerosis

Study: Western diet and its impact on cardiovascular disease: A systematic review (Lee et al., 2021)

Findings: This study reviewed the impact of a Western-style diet, which is rich in red and processed meats (such as burgers), on cardiovascular health. The researchers found that cholesterol, combined with high levels of saturated fats, plays a central role in the development of atherosclerosis. The consumption of cholesterol-rich foods like burgers leads to an increase in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. This contributes to the accumulation of fatty plaques in arteries, which narrows and stiffens blood vessels, a hallmark of atherosclerosis.

Key Point: The cholesterol from red meat, often used in burgers, plays a significant role in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, especially when combined with high saturated fat intake.

4. Impact of Saturated Fats and Cholesterol from Red and Processed Meats

Study: Red and processed meat consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Rohrmann et al., 2013)

Findings: This meta-analysis reviewed the link between red and processed meats (such as those used in burgers) and coronary heart disease (CHD), including atherosclerosis. The authors found that cholesterol and saturated fats in these foods increase LDL cholesterol levels, leading to the formation of arterial plaques. The study supports the idea that both the cholesterol content and the type of fats (saturated and trans) in fast foods contribute to cardiovascular risk, including atherosclerosis.

Key Point: Both cholesterol and saturated fats from processed meats like burgers increase LDL cholesterol, contributing to atherosclerosis and CHD risk.

5. Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis in a Western Diet

Study: Saturated fats, trans fats, and cardiovascular disease (Mozaffarian et al., 2010)

Findings: This review examined the role of dietary fats, particularly trans and saturated fats, in cardiovascular disease. Burgers, a staple of the Western diet, are rich in these fats. The study emphasizes that saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol, while trans fats both raise LDL and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol, creating a dangerous lipid profile that accelerates atherosclerosis. Cholesterol in foods like burgers directly contributes to elevated blood cholesterol levels, further enhancing the risk of plaque formation in arteries.

Key Point: Cholesterol, along with saturated and trans fats in burgers, contributes significantly to elevated LDL cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis.

Summary

In the context of atherosclerosis, burgers are considered an important dietary factor due to their high content of both saturated fats and cholesterol. Studies indicate that cholesterol in red and processed meats, like those used in burgers, contributes to elevated LDL cholesterol levels, which is a primary factor in plaque formation and the development of atherosclerosis. Saturated fats also play a pivotal role in increasing LDL cholesterol, further promoting the process of atherogenesis. Thus, the combination of these constituents in burgers contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease risk.

References

Siri-Tarino, P.W., Sun, Q., Hu, F.B., & Krauss, R.M. (2010). Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: a review of the evidence and its application to clinical practice. Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 12(6), 372-377.

Pivovarova, M.C., Park, J.O., et al. (2012). Effect of a fast-food meal on postprandial endothelial function. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 96(4), 810-816.

Lee, R.G.N., Hall, S.A., et al. (2021). Western diet and its impact on cardiovascular disease: A systematic review. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, 682488.

Rohrmann, S.F., Yip, K.J., et al. (2013). Red and processed meat consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology, 42(5), 1379-1392.

Mozaffarian, D., Appel, L.J., & Van Horn, L. (2010). Saturated fats, trans fats, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation, 122(25), 2550-2559.

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