Macro partitioning

High intake of food rich in saturated fat is not independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis (measured by carotid intima-media thickness) or its progression in high-risk European adults after adjusting for lifestyle and demographic confounders.

For individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease, simply reducing saturated fat intake may not be sufficient to reduce subclinical atherosclerosis markers like carotid intima-media thickness. Focus on overall lifestyle factors, including physical activity, smoking cessation, and managing other risk factors, as the isolated effect of saturated fat on this specific measure was not significant in this high-risk population.