WHO recommends a fat intake of no less than 15% of the daily caloric requirements (https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/trs916/en/).
However, imagine a catastrophic situation in which a population somehow lost access to fat-rich foods for several years, while still having access to a good supply of carbohydrates, protein and micronutrients. Is there a point at which nutritional problems would arise if the consumption of fat was near zero? Would people survive if this was the case? what if the consumption was 5% or 10% of the total caloric intake?
Could the body survive via its own capacity to synthesize fats from carbohydrates?
-Please assume that essential fatty acid consumption (linoleic and alpha linoleic) is covered in this scenario-
Typically, your minimum fat intake is set at 15-25% of total calories during a diet, which often works out to be around 0.2-0.25 grams per pound. Once the diet is over or you're taking a 1-2 week diet break (once every ~8 weeks) fats should be increased to at least 0.3g/pound if they were below that. https://macrosinc.net/nutriwiki/minimum-fats/
1,500 calories: about 50 grams of fat per day. 2,000 calories: about 67 grams of fat per day. 2,500 calories: about 83 grams of fat per day. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-fat-to-eat
Your body relies on fat to supply energy to muscles during activity, and how much fat a person needs can vary. As a general guideline, fat should make up 20 to 35 percent of your total calories. https://www.eatright.org/fitness/training-and-recovery/building-muscle/strength-building-and-muscle-mass
Typically, your minimum fat intake is set at 15-25% of total calories during a diet, which often works out to be around 0.2-0.25 grams per pound. Once the diet is over or you're taking a 1-2 week diet break (once every ~8 weeks) fats should be increased to at least 0.3g/pound if they were below that.
Humans may survive quite long on fat free diet, even on starch (rice, potatoes, cereals) only, but it is not an optimal diet, it leads to malnutrition. Many communities in the past and present survived long periods on such meager fare.
Thanks Maria Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis .
What type of malnutrition problem can arise from a fat-free diet?
Could you point me to some examples of populations surviving on fat-poor diets?
It cannot be longer than a few months for a whole population (especially children), but many adults may survive even years on very poor diet (little fat and protein). Examples - Nazi concentration camp inmates, historical famines in China, Japan, India, Ireland, Ukraine, recurring famines in spring before new crops in Europe, starvation during war (WWII - Netherlands, Leningrad), now in North Korea.
Lack of fat in diet causes deficiencies of fat soluble vitamins, stunted growth, too low body weight, dry skin, loss of hair, amenorrhea, mental fatigue and other problems.
Current Dietary Fat Intake Recommendations for Adults by WHO (Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition Report of an expert consultation. FAO Food Nutr Pap. 2010;91) -
Total: 20-35%, Saturated:
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