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How do trans fats affect LDL cholesterol levels?

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Trans fat Commercially manufactured foods, including cookies, doughnuts, and muffins, often contain trans fats.

Trans fats have a detrimental impact on cardiovascular health by negatively altering cholesterol levels. Specifically, the consumption of trans fats causes an increase in levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.12

This elevation in LDL cholesterol is significant because it promotes the accumulation of fat in blood vessels, which can lead to atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke. Furthermore, trans fats are particularly harmful because they simultaneously lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol—the "good" cholesterol responsible for transporting cholesterol away from cells and blood vessels to the liver for excretion. By both raising LDL and depleting HDL, trans fats significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.2