title: Palm oil and human health. Meeting report of NFI: Nutrition Foundation of Italy symposium.
abstract: The use of palm oil by the food industry is increasingly criticized, especially in Italy, for its purported negative effects on human health and environment. This paper summarizes the conclusions of a Symposium on this topic, gathered by the Nutrition Foundation of Italy, among experts representing a number of Italian Medical and Nutritional Scientific Societies. Toxicological and environmental issues were not considered. Participants agreed that: no evidence does exist on the specific health effects of palm oil consumption as compared to other saturated fatty acids-rich fats; the stereospecific distribution of saturated fatty acids in the triacylglycerol molecule of palm oil limits their absorption rate and metabolic effects; in agreement with International guidelines, saturated fatty acids intake should be kept <10% of total energy, within a balanced diet; within these limits, no effect of palm oil consumption on human health (and specifically on CVD or cancer risk) can be foreseen.
authors.affiliation: a Nutrition Foundation of Italy , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3590-2330
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: c Research Center of Food and Nutrition ? CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) , Rome , Italy and SISA - Italian Society of Food Science.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghiselli
authors.affiliation: d Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lercker
authors.affiliation: e Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.affiliation: f Department of Surgery , Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology Università di Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maffeis
authors.affiliation: g Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano , Italy ; on behalf of CNSA - Food Safety National Committee.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostoni
authors.affiliation: h ANSISA - Italian Association of Food Science Specialists , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ballardini
authors.affiliation: i Fondazione SIMG , Firenze , Italy ; SIMG - Italian Society of General Medicine.
authors.forename: Ovidio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brignoli
authors.affiliation: j Cardiology Division , Spedali Civili and University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy ; GICR - Italian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.
authors.forename: Pompilio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faggiano
authors.affiliation: k Institute of Food Science , National Research Council , Avellino , Italy ; SID - Italian Society of Diabetology.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacco
authors.affiliation: l Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Spedali Civili , Brescia , Italy - ADI - Italian Association of Dietetics.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macca
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy.|m SISA - Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magni
authors.affiliation: n Department of Diabetology Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition ASST , Vimercate , Italy , AMD - Italian Association of Diabetologists.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marelli
authors.affiliation: o SIMPeSV and FIMMG ? Italian Society of Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine and Italian Federation of General Practitioners , Roma , Italy.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marrocco
authors.affiliation: p Department of Paediatrics , Policlinico ? University of Bari , Bari , Italy ; SIPPS - Italian Society of Preventive and Social Pediatrics.
authors.forename: Vito Leonardo
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Miniello
authors.affiliation: q Division of Cardiology A.O. San Giovanni-Addolorata , Roma , Italy ; ANMCO - Italian National Association of Hospital Cardiologists.
authors.forename: Gian Francesco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Mureddu
authors.affiliation: r Department of Food Science , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parma , Italy ; SINU - Italian Society of Human Nutrition.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.affiliation: s SNAMID - National Society of Medical Education , Busto Arsizio , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.affiliation: t ANDID - Italian Association of Dietitians , Roma , Italy.
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.affiliation: u Department of Health Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy ; SIP - Italian Society of Pediatrics.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verduci
authors.affiliation: v National Research Council , Roma , Italy ; SIPREC - Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: a Nutrition Foundation of Italy , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poli
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D000073878:Palm Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D000073878:Palm Oil
keywords: Palm oil; breast milk; cardiovascular risk; cholesterol; dietary fat; palmitic acid; saturated fat