Ahmedabad,
December 29, 2025 : At the 100th National Conference
of the Indian Medical Association (IMA NATCON 2025), cardiologists called
for a more evidence-based understanding of dietary fats and cardiovascular
health, emphasising that long-standing assumptions must be reviewed in light of
evolving scientific evidence. The centenary edition of IMA NATCON brought together
thousands of doctors, researchers, and healthcare leaders from across India,
reinforcing its role as a key platform for shaping clinical and public-health
perspectives.
Two
expert-led sessions by Dr Varun Bansal and Dr Ketan Mehta provided clinical clarity
on topics often clouded by misinformation, examining the role of dietary
fats, palm oil and emerging cardiometabolic interventions through the lens
of clinical evidence and global research.
In
his presentation, “Atherosclerosis, Dietary Saturated Fats and Palm Oil: Are
They Really Connected?”, Dr Bansal challenged long-held assumptions
linking saturated fats directly to heart disease. Drawing from multi-country
studies, he highlighted that saturated fats are not nutritionally uniform and
that cardiovascular risk is influenced by overall dietary patterns, lifestyle
and total caloric intake. He noted that while certain fat substitutions may
lower cholesterol, they do not consistently reduce cardiovascular mortality,
and that comparisons with trans fats show favourable outcomes for palm oil. His
session aligned with WHO and ICMR–NIN guidelines that emphasise moderation,
diversity of oils and balanced intake.
“Nutrition
science cannot be reduced to simplistic labels. What matters is balance,
variety and informed choices, not fear-driven avoidance,” said Dr
Varun Bansal.
Complementing
this, Dr Mehta presented on “Palm Tocotrienols in Cardiometabolic Syndrome”,
focusing on the rising burden of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and
dyslipidaemia in India. He highlighted tocotrienols, a form of Vitamin E
present in red palm oil, citing evidence of their antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective potential. Dr Mehta also pointed to the
strong safety profile of palm-derived tocotrienols, which hold GRAS status from
the US FDA, and stressed their role as a supportive, science-backed
intervention alongside lifestyle and clinical care.
“Cardiometabolic
syndrome is complex and multifactorial. The focus must be on integrating
well-researched nutritional components into patient-centric care,” Dr Ketan
Mehta noted.
The
sessions generated strong engagement from attending medical professionals, with
active discussion and questioning reflecting interest in reassessing long-held
dietary assumptions through current scientific evidence. The discussions
reinforced the importance of ongoing, science-led dialogue within the medical
community to support balanced, evidence-based dietary guidance for
cardiovascular and metabolic health.
