Because part of the reason for increased risk of MI among
palm oil users may be attributed to low intake of polyunsaturated
fat, and because palm oil is the cheapest oil available to
most people in developing countries, replacing palm oil with
unsaturated cooking oils may not be a practical solution in the
short term. This is because the palm oil industry is a major
source of employment and income for many people who might
not be able to afford other oils. Despite these social concerns,
which could be addressed in the long term by redirecting palm
oil to other nonhuman food uses, it is important to attend to
the health concerns of palm oil consumers. The increase in the
risk of MI associated with palm oil use that was demonstrated
in this study is important to public health. Production and
consumption of palm oil are widespread and on the increase
(1,34), especially in those developing countries in which diseases
of affluence are also increasing (3,35–37). In Costa Rica,
for instance, CVD is a leading cause of death, with ischemic
heart disease accounting for 47.2% of CVD deaths (38).