Since a controversial study in the 1990s reported that linemen have triple the risk of
death from cardiovascular disease compared with other players, researchers have paid particular attention to the health consequences of playing football.
When a group of individuals replaced animal fats with omega -6-rich safflower oil, their cholesterol levels decreased, however, the rates of
death from cardiovascular disease and coronary artery
disease increased significantly as
compared to those consuming the animal fats.