Lipides et santé

The link between fats and health is considered from a metabolic and cardiovascular point of view. In a first time we describe the historical issues of the relationship between fatty acids and atherosclerosis, oils and health. The acquired data about the effects of the different kinds of fatty acids on lipid parameters and on risk's markers and factors are reviewed. The diversity of the responses according to the subjects (gender, genetic, diseases…) and to the fatty acids amounts and interactions are discussed : it is responsible for shaded and inconsistent data. This explain prudent advices : dietary fatty acids intakes may be various, hypolipidic diet must not be generalized, mono-insaturated fatty acids have to be favoured, the omega 6/omega 3 ratio seems essential. Unknown data are still existing.