Chapter: Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Lipids or Fats

Dietary Requirements of Lipids or Fats

Although no specific dietary requirement for fats is included in the RDA and DRIs, deficiency symptoms do occur when fats provide less than 10% of the total daily calorie requirement.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Although no specific dietary requirement for fats is included in the RDA andDRIs, deficiency symptoms do occur when fats provide less than 10% of the totaldaily calorie requirement. When gross deficiency occurs, eczema (inflamed andscaly skin condition) can develop. This has been observed in infants who werefed formulas lacking the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and in clients main-tained for long periods on intravenous feedings that lack linoleic acid. Also,growth may be retarded, and weight loss can occur when diets are seriouslydeficient in fats.

On the other hand, excessive fat in the diet can lead to obesity or heartdisease. In addition, studies point to an association between high-fat diets andcancers of the colon, breast, uterus, and prostate.

The Food and Nutrition Board’s Committee on Diet and Health recommends that people reduce their fat intake to 30% of total calories. The American Heart Association’s newest recommendation is to consume less or no more than7% of saturated fats, 8% polyunsaturated fats, and 15% monounsaturated fats.At present, 36% of calories in U.S. diets is derived from fats.

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Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Lipids or Fats : Dietary Requirements of Lipids or Fats |