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Trans fats linked to increased stroke risk
March 01, 2012
Postmenopausal women may be able to reduce their risk of stroke by limiting their intake of trans fats and taking aspirin on a regular basis.
Women who consume large amounts of trans fats may be more likely to suffer a stroke after the menopause, new research has found.
However, the researchers observed that taking aspirin could reduce the likelihood of women needing to rely on their private medical insurance or seek treatment on the NHS for stroke.
The study, which was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the US, used data on 87,025 women, aged 50 to 79, who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.
Researchers found that women who ate the most trans fats (6.1g per day) had a 39 per cent greater incidence of stroke than those who ate the least (2.2g per day).
However, aspirin use was found to reduce this risk.
Dr Ka He, whose findings are published in the Annals of Neurology, said: "Our findings confirm that postmenopausal women with higher trans fat intake had an elevated risk of ischaemic stroke, but aspirin use may reduce the adverse effects."
More than 20,000 people under the age of 65 have a stroke each year in the UK, according to figures from the Stroke Association.
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