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by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

For vegans, there’s no question—we don’t use animal-based butter. Non-vegans may be faced with a dilemma. Butter is sometimes presented as a “more natural” choice than plant oils. A recent study examined the correlation between frequent use of dairy butter, or of plant oils, and mortality.

Study subjects were adults in the United States who had participated in one of three large studies, namely the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Over an up to 33-year follow-up period, the more than 220,000 study participants provided the researchers with information about what they ate and their health status. Deaths among participants were recorded. The investigators examined the subjects’ reported intakes of butter (added at the table and used in cooking) and plant-based oils (safflower, soybean, corn, canola, and olive oil). Those subjects with the highest intake of butter had a 15% higher risk of death compared to those with the lowest intake of butter. Those with the highest intake of plant-based oils had a 16% lower risk of death compared to those with the lowest intake of oils.

Higher butter intake was also associated with an increased risk of death due to cancer but not to death due to cardiovascular disease. In contrast, higher intakes of plant-based oils were associated with a lower risk of death due to cancer and of death due to cardiovascular disease.

Replacing 2 small pats of butter per day with 2 teaspoons of plant-based oils was associated with a 17% reduction in total mortality and the same (17%) reduction in cancer mortality.

When the researchers examined the effects of individual oils, they found that higher intakes of canola, olive, or soybean oils were associated with lower total mortality while there was no association between total mortality and intakes of corn and safflower oils. Higher olive oil intakes were associated with a lower risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease; higher intakes of canola oil and soybean oil were both associated with a lower risk of death from cancer.

The authors of this study conclude, “substituting butter with plant-based oils may confer substantial benefits for preventing premature deaths.”

Reference

Zhang Y, Chadaideh KS, Li Y, et al. Butter and plant-based oils intake and mortality. JAMA Intern Med. 2025;185:549-560.

To read more about fats and oils see:

Study Examines Plant and Animal Fat and Mortality in the United States

The Latest on Saturated Fat

Should Toddlers be on a Low-fat Veggie Diet?

Is Coconut Oil Good for You?

What About an Oil-free Diet?

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