Saturated fats pose a major problem for several individuals as it results to cholesterol and heart or artery diseases. However, recent study shows that diet and heart attack rates may not be as serious as the experts thought.

Deakin nutritionist Dr. David Cameron-Smith explains that a study conducted at Harvard University will show that saturated fat is not the main cause of artery problems.

"Saturated fat is not just one fat, we know that different types of saturated fat vary from the harmless to those that are most definitely dangerous to heart health. The real question is identifying what saturated fats are dangerous by following different types of fat from food into our blood and then into the fat storage deposits of our body."

Deakin continues its probe on saturated fats by conducting experiments using dairy food products, including full cream milk and cheese.

"The effect of full fat dairy foods on health is as much of a mystery today as it was several decades ago. Our study for the first time tracks the fats once eaten through the blood and into fat cells," Dr Cameron-Smith said.

Respondents of the research targets men since they easily surrender to heart diseases. Still, the relationship between diet and heart attack is still vague.

Dr. Cameron-Smith added that its research findings showed that dairy fats are not easily digested and the effect of blood fat is not to be taken seriously since fewer fats are not harmful.

"We think that this reduces the storage of these dangerous types of fats and is beneficial for many aspects of health including heart disease," she said.

The research by Deakin targets men between 40 to 60 years in age and concentrates on those who weigh more than 90 kg and with high cholesterol.