Why are trans fats considered more harmful than regular saturated fats?

[Math Is Hard]

I've heard a lot of bad press on trans fats claiming they are more dangerous than natural saturated fats, but it isn't clear to me why this would be true. The hydrogenation process appears to create an identical molecular structure to an ordinary saturated fat. I went looking for info on why trans fats are worse for our health than regular saturated fat, and I found the following list at a site called http://www.bantransfats.com/transvssat.html" :

(1) saturated fat has been described as a bad fat, although when too much is eaten the body converts it to monounsaturated fat, a good fat. This does not happen with trans fat.
(2) saturated fatty acids raise HDL cholesterol, the so-called good cholesterol, whereas the trans fatty acids lower HDL cholesterol;
(3) saturated fatty acids lower the blood levels of the atherogenic lipoprotein [a], whereas trans fatty acids raise the blood levels of lipoprotein [a];
(4) saturated fatty acids conserve the good omega-3 fatty acids, whereas trans fatty acids cause the tissues to lose these omega-3 fatty acids;
(5) saturated fatty acids do not inhibit insulin binding, whereas trans fatty acids do inhibit insulin binding (see our page on diabetes);
(6) saturated fatty acids do not increase C-reactive protein, but trans fatty acids do increase C-reactive protein causing arterial inflammation;
(7) saturated fatty acids are the normal fatty acids made by the body, and they do not interfere with enzyme functions such as the delta-6-desaturase, whereas trans fatty acids are not made by the body, and they interfere with many enzyme functions such as delta-6-desaturase; and
(8) some saturated fatty acids are used by the body to fight viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, and they support the immune system, whereas trans fatty acids interfere with the function of the immune system.

So I'm wondering two things:
a) Is this information correct?
b) If so, why do trans fats behave differently than naturally-occurring saturated fats?

 

[Math Is Hard]

hmm.. no opinions on this one?

 

[ravenprp]

a) The information provided is generally correct. Trans fats have been extensively studied and have been found to have negative effects on our health, including increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and inflammation. Saturated fats, on the other hand, have been found to have both positive and negative effects on our health, depending on the type and amount consumed.

b) Trans fats behave differently than naturally-occurring saturated fats because of their chemical structure. While both types of fats are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules, trans fats have a different arrangement of these molecules. This is due to the process of hydrogenation, where unsaturated fats (such as vegetable oils) are converted into solid fats (such as margarine) by adding hydrogen atoms. This process creates a more stable fat that has a longer shelf life and can withstand high cooking temperatures.

However, the resulting trans fats have been found to have negative effects on our health because they interfere with our body's natural processes. For example, trans fats do not get converted into monounsaturated fats like saturated fats do, and they also interfere with enzyme functions and the immune system. This is why trans fats are considered more harmful than regular saturated fats.