College of Public Health Faculty Member Pens Editorial for Medical Publication

By Kev' Moye

Park, an assistant professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Epidemiology, penned an editorial examining the research project, “To Butter or Replace with Plant-Based Oils, that is the Question.” The study focused on how eating butter, in comparison to the use of plant-based oils such as olive, canola and soybean oil, was associated with potential health outcomes — specifically, overall death rates and deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Initially, Park was among the peer reviewers for the study’s manuscript. He eventually received an invite to write an accompanying commentary. He said he enjoyed writing about a polarizing subject within the epidemiology community.

“I wrote the commentary because this study addresses a crucial and often debated topic in nutritional epidemiology: the relationship between butter versus plant-based oils and health outcomes,” he said. “Given the ongoing scientific discussions about dietary fats and chronic disease risks, I felt it was valuable to highlight these observational findings and discuss how they could inform dietary recommendations and individual food choices.”

Park summarized the key findings of the research and positioned the info within a broader public health context. Collaborating with his co-author — who has extensive knowledge of nutritional epidemiology — was key to him completing the editorial and explaining the value of the study, Park said.

“I evaluated the methodological strengths and limitations of the research and interpreted these observational findings in the context of existing literature on dietary fats and health outcomes,” he said. “I wanted to effectively communicate the significance of these associations and discuss their potential implications for dietary guidance and individual health decisions.”

Park noted the importance of the public having information about the subject that is easy to comprehend.

“Arkansans may benefit from the insights of this study, given the state’s relatively higher rates of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions, linked to the high saturated fat consumption and lower intake of nutritious foods,” he said. “This research indicates that simple dietary adjustments, such as substituting plant-based oils like olive, or soybean for butter could offer a practical step toward improving dietary quality, potentially helping to address the dietary and health challenges commonly faced by Arkansans.”