Guasch-Ferré M, et al. - Researchers used data from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS; 1990–2012) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS; 1990–2012) to assess total and cause-specific mortality in relation to cis-monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake from plant (MUFA-P) and animal (MUFA-A) sources. They examined 63,412 women and 29,966 men from the NHS and HPFS, respectively, and recorded 20,672 deaths during nearly 1.9 million person-years of follow-up. Lower total mortality was found in relation to higher consumption of MUFA-Ps. Higher mortality was observed in relation to MUFA-As intake. The substitution of saturated fatty acids, refined carbohydrates, or trans fats by MUFA-Ps, but not MUFA-As, resulted in significantly lower mortality risk. The associations for MUFAs could be confounded by other constituents in animal foods, such as saturated fatty acids when they are mainly derived from animal products, noted the investigators.