Date Published: 2 December 2005

Highlights from December 2005 Journal of the American Dietetic Association

The December 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies. Below is a summary of two of this month's articles.

Reducing Trans-Fatty Acid Content in French Fries

Researchers at Texas Tech University say french fries prepared in non-hydrogenated cottonseed oil are significantly lower in trans fatty acids and saturated fat than fries prepared in partially hydrogenated canola oil or soybean oil, the two most commonly used oils in deep-fat frying.
Trans fatty acids increase total cholesterol levels and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and reduce HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting intake of fats and oils high in saturated and trans fatty acids.

Using each type of oil, the researchers made six batches of fries each day for five days, then analyzed the fatty acid profiles, trans fat content and crude fat content in both the fries and the oil. "No significant differences were found between the fries prepared in the three oil types for crude fat and the fatty acid profiles remained stable. However, the fries prepared in cottonseed oil were significantly lower in trans-fatty acids. The combined total of the trans-fatty acid and the saturated fatty acid content were lower in fries fried in the cottonseed oil," according to the researchers.

The researchers conclude that "because deep fat frying remains a popular cooking technique, health professionals should educate the public and the food service industry on the benefits of using nonhydrogenated cottonseed oil as an alternative to the commonly used hydrogenated oils." Many popular fast-food restaurants still use hydrogenated shortenings for all fried foods.

Nutrients per Calorie and Unit Cost: Ranking Fruits and Vegetables

Although fruits and vegetables can be a relatively expensive source of dietary energy, they provide key nutrients at a reasonable cost, according to researchers at the University of Washington.

A scoring system was used to estimate the nutritional adequacy of vegetables and fruits on a per weight, per calorie and per unit cost basis. Results confirmed the widely accepted belief that energy-dense foods tend to contain fewer nutrients.

Fruits and vegetables scored highest on nutrient density because they were nutrient-rich in relation to their low energy content and also had a relatively high nutrient-to-price ratio. This illustrates that fruits and vegetables provide nutrients at a reasonable cost when compared with other foods.

According to its website at the time of publication of this article the Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics. With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being.

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