Background: Dietary surveys indicate that New Zealanders have a low intake of trans-fatty acids (TFA) with little derived from industrial sources. This observational cross-sectional study in New Zealand patients with surgical coronary artery disease assesses the plasma levels of TFA and the association of TFA levels with clinical markers of vascular disease.Methods: 390 patients with severe coronary artery had fasting blood tests taken. Plasma levels of four TFA derived from hydrogenated vegetable oils and ruminant animal products were measured by gas chromatography. Relations between plasma TFA levels and the recent occurrence of myocardial infarction, the presence of polyvascular disease, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed.Results: The median TFA level was 0.85% by weight of total fatty acids (IQR 0.59–1.79%), with skewed distribution to the right. For the lowest ( 1.07%) thirds of total TFA, respectively, the proportion of patients with...