Trans fats affect blood flow

U.S. researchers say partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have trans fats that can interfere with blood flow. The study, scheduled to be published in the journal Atherosclerosis, finds trans fats reduce the amount of an enzyme - prostacyclin - that keeps blood flowing and helps prevents blood clots. "This is the first time that trans fatty acids have been shown to interfere with yet another part of the blood-flow process," study leader Fred Kummerow, emeritus at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says in a statement. "This study adds another piece of evidence to a long list that points to trans fats as significant contributors to heart disease." - UPI