[Cardiovascular disease and trans fatty acids: legal act necessary]

Hydrogenated oils containing trans fatty acids (TFA) are used to produce margarine and various processed foods. TFA affect serum lipid levels, fatty acids metabolism, and endothelial function. High TFA intake is linked to increased all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence. Denmark was first to introduce law that limited TFA content in food; this action led to lower CVD mortality. Seven European countries have followed this practice until now, in a few others the food industry voluntarily reduced TFA use. The issue remains unaddressed in Poland. Legal TFA limit should be established, as it is the optimal solution considering both CVD prevention and the associated cost savings in public healthcare.