Intake assessment of saturated fat in palm olein and soya oil for pregnant and lactating women in Nigeria
Background The Global Nutrition Report shows a steady rise in obesity and diet-related NCDs among women in Nigeria. Unhealthy dietary patterns such as high consumption of saturated oils (e.g. palm olein) have been shown to be key risk factors for NCDs. It has been observed that there is no implemen...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Public Health Nutrition Association
2025-06-01
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| Series: | World Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://worldnutritionjournal-org.wphna.org/index.php/wn/article/view/1151 |
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| Summary: | Background
The Global Nutrition Report shows a steady rise in obesity and diet-related NCDs among women in Nigeria. Unhealthy dietary patterns such as high consumption of saturated oils (e.g. palm olein) have been shown to be key risk factors for NCDs. It has been observed that there is no implemented national policy to advise about saturated fatty acid intake in Nigeria. Thus, the need for dietary intake assessment of commonly consumed vegetable oils (palm olein and soya oil) not only to inform risk management policies and consumer choice on healthier oils but also to provide a dietary rationale for the potential risk associated with the consumption of palm olein to the health of pregnant and lactating women in Nigeria.
Methods
The level of saturated fat in palm olein and soya oil was estimated by this study from on-pack nutrition labels of brands most commonly available in the open markets and supermarkets in Nigeria and daily vegetable oil consumption data from the National Food Fortification and Micronutrient Survey. The assessment was done to evaluate dietary saturated fat intakes and calculate the risk from palm olein and soya oil consumption using the recommended methods in the Codex Food Safety Risk Analysis Manual and FAO Dietary Risk – Pesticide Registration Toolkit. Comparison of the estimated dietary intake was made with the Nutrient Reference Value – Noncommunicable Disease for Saturated fatty acids from Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling.
Results
The estimated dietary intakes of saturated fatty acids from palm olein for pregnant and lactating women were approximately 13.5 g and 15 g per day, which are 67.5% and 75% of the Nutrient Reference Values - Noncommunicable Disease (NRV-NCD), which refers to levels not to be exceeded, for saturated fatty acids respectively. The estimated dietary intakes of saturated fatty acids from soya oil were approximately 4.0 g and 4.4 g per day, which are 20% and 22% of the NRV-NCD for saturated fatty acids respectively. The relative intake/risk and its reduction (this compares the estimated intakes/risks and their resultant reductions) were estimated to be approximately 3.4 and 71% respectively.
Conclusions
Soya oil is a healthier option than palm olein, and the government-led establishment of a saturated fatty acid benchmark for oils might significantly lead to incremental reduction in the risks of excessive intake and cardiovascular disease by driving product reformulation. Consumption of palm olein might be a major reason behind the high prevalence and growing burden of diet-related hypertension among pregnant and lactating women in Nigeria.
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| ISSN: | 2041-9775 |