Reducing saturated fat could save billions of dollars.

Tens of thousands of cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) could be prevented and billions of dollars in related costs could be saved through interventions to help Americans reduce intake of saturated fat. An economic analysis using data from a variety of sources found that, if Americans reduced saturated fat intake to nine percent of total energy, about 100,000 first-time coronary events could be averted by the year 2005, with associated cost savings of approximately $13,000,000,000.

"For years, public and private health and medical organizations have recommended that Americans follow a low-fat, low-calorie diet as part of a healthful lifestyle," notes David Thompson, senior economist, Policy Analysis, Inc., Brookline, Mass. "But the nutrition community and policymakers have had a difficult time translating the health benefits of low-fat eating into economic benefits for individuals, insurers, and society as a whole."

The study determined CHD risk for population subgroups defined according to age, sex, and cholesterol levels. Researchers reviewed estimates of annual medical care expenditures and earnings losses associated with...