Consumption of saturated fats is related more strongly to the growth of fatty deposits on artery walls, which reduce blood flow to the heart, than it is to heart disease directly.

Over the past 30 years, per-capita consumption of saturated fats has remained essentially unchanged in the United States but has increased somewhat in France.

Reports of the health benefits of red wine have led many people in the United States to drink red wine regularly.

Cigarette smoking, which can also contribute to heart disease, is only slightly more common in France than in the United States.

Regular consumption of red wine is declining dramatically among young adults in France, and heart disease typically does not manifest itself until middle age.