asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to bring to the attention of the public the relationship between a high level absorption of cholesterol and coronary heart disease or to take steps to encourage the reduction of the cholesterol level of the population; if so, how; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coronary Heart Disease.
4.
The Irish Heart Foundation, whose primary objective is to co-operate with the medical profession and business leaders to draw public attention to the loss of life through heart disease, engages in an intensive national publicity and educational programme. I am aware that the foundation's programme concentrates attention upon cholesterol as one of the risk factors associated with coronary heart disease and suggests how the cholesterol levels in diet may be reduced.
The foundation have also initiated a programme for screening the public to assist in the identification of overt cardiovascular disease. This programme has been called "Mediscan" and, as part of the screening process, will investigate for high serum cholesterol levels.
My Department co-operated fully in the setting up of the Irish Heart Foundation and gave a grant towards its foundation expenses. The foundation has also been assisted financially by grants from the health authorities with the encouragement of the Department.
Is the Minister aware there is at present a campaign to stop the eating of butter? It is claimed that butter is the main cause in this. Will the Minister comment on that?
It is very hard for me to speak as an expert. I was talking to someone representing the Heart Foundation recently and, if one looks at the publicity issued by the foundation, one will see that there is a certain emphasis on overweight. It does suggest that the over-consumption of saturated fats may be an inducement to overweight and the formation of cholesterol. Uninformed propaganda has been exaggerated to suggest that no one should eat any kind of saturated fat, but there is nothing in these leaflets here to suggest that everybody should take an extreme attitude. The difficulty may have arisen as a result of a particular comment on a television programme which suggested a kind of panic attitude towards the consumption of butter.
It is doing a great deal of harm to the dairying industry and I think some effort should be made to correct the situation.
I hope it will be corrected.
Is the Minister aware that there was some information to the contrary in yesterday's newspapers as to the effect on butter?
I have not read it in yesterday's newspaper. It will come before me in the ordinary way.
Who said it? The chairman of the Dairy Board?
5.
asked the Minister for Health if in view of the very high death rate in this country due to heart disease he will take steps to promote a campaign giving dietary advice and pointing out to citizens the best steps to be taken to avoid heart disease.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Deputy Ryan's question on similar lines. I am satisfied with the effectiveness of the work of the Irish Heart Foundation in this field.