Isomeric trans fatty acids in the Spanish diet and their relationships with changes in fat intake patterns

Eleven different groups of food products (total samples 378), representing about 90% of total fat intake in Spanish diet, were analysed by gas chromatography in order to determine their contents and variability of trans fatty acids. With official data of food consumption in Spain, trans fatty acid intake is calculated for recent decades and results are compared with data available from other countries. Mean intake in Spain obtained from this calculation is 2.4 g/person/day. This is lower than values for other food consumption models in which the major fats are of animal origin or industrially processed.