"People were less likely to go to the hospital with heart attacks or strokes after several counties in New York State restricted the use of trans fats according to a new study.  Trans fats raise bad cholesterol lower good cholesterol and ultimately increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Theyre found naturally in some foods but are often manufactured and added to processed foods to improve taste and texture.  New York City was progressive and they enacted restrictions on trans fats but no one looked to see if this made measurable changes to outcomes said study lead author Dr. Eric Brandt of Yale University in New Haven Connecticut.  New York City limited the use of trans fats starting in July . The restrictions applied to food purchased outside of stores such as at restaurants street vendors and bakeries in the citys five counties. Other New York counties took similar actions after New York Citys measure was enacted.  Previous research found that death from cardiovascular disease declined . percent within a year after counties enacted trans fat restrictions the researchers write in JAMA Cardiology. No study looked at nonfatal cardiovascular issues like hospitalizations due to heart attacks and strokes however.  For the new study the researchers compared data on people hospitalized between  and  for heart attacks or strokes in counties that did or didnt restrict trans fats.  Altogether they had data on . million people in  counties without trans fat restrictions and . million people in  counties with restrictions.  In  there were  hospital admissions for heart attack or stroke per  people in counties that never enacted restrictions compared to  per  people in counties that put restrictions in place.  While admissions for heart attacks and strokes fell after  in all the counties the drop was more substantial in those that enacted trans fat restrictions the authors found.  After three years or more the combined rate of hospitalizations for heart attacks or strokes was about  percent lower in the counties with trans fat regulations.  Admissions for heart attacks were nearly  percent lower in counties with restrictions. Similarly admissions for strokes were about  percent lower in counties with restrictions but that finding could be due to chance.  Brandt told Reuters Health that New York City was also pushing other public health initiatives around the same time. Those included clean air initiatives and showing calorie counts on restaurant menus.  When they removed New York City data to make sure those other factors werent driving the findings the pattern didnt change.  We still found the same thing Brandt said.  Still the study cant say the trans fat restrictions caused fewer admissions in those counties.  Brandt and colleagues write that in  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA removed manufactured trans fats from its list of safe food additives. By  those fats will be nearly eliminated from American diets they add.  There has been a lot of looking into whether trans fats are harmful said Brandt. Here we find on a population level when we restrict them it benefits society by reducing heart attacks and strokes.  The findings suggest the FDAs action will lead to health benefits across the country he added.  SOURCE bit.lyotJgK httpbit.lyotJgK JAMA Cardiology online April  . Our StandardsThe Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. httpthomsonreuters.comenaboutustrustprinciples.html"