Chapter 12.5, Problem 3QTC

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The explanation for the French Paradox.

Introduction:

In the 1970s, it was found that high saturated fat intake can lead an individual to the edge of developing Coronary heart disease (CHD). The coronary heart disease and its relations with high consumption of cholesterol & saturated fat were found by the United States.

The term French paradox was coined in the 1980s by French epidemiologists in response to it, suggesting the low incidence of CHD in France in spite of their high intake of saturated fat, for instance, cheese and wine pairing an essential part of the French diet.

It was observed that the CHD mortality rate was low in French people compared to the Americans having a similar amount of cholesterol in the body.

The data supporting French paradox was obtained from a project MONICA (monitoring of trend and determinants in cardiovascular disease).