Examining Seed Oils: Potential Lowering of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Due to Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Get the scoop on cardiometabolic health and how a certain fatty acid can help keep your heart and metabolism in top shape.
Here's the lowdown: Cardiometabolic health is all about the fitness of your cardiovascular and metabolic systems. A healthy heart and efficient metabolism are key to keeping diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes at bay.
Neglecting your cardiometabolic health can put you at risk for some nasty stuff, including chronic kidney disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and even heart attacks and strokes. Yikes!
So, what can you do to maintain those all-important systems? Well, lifestyle factors like diet, physical activity, and quitting smoking can all make a difference, according to Kevin C. Maki, PhD, adjunct professor in the School of Public Health-Bloomington at Indiana University and chief scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research.
Ready for the good news? Maki and his team recently found that consuming a diet higher in the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid can help support cardiometabolic health and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Now, you might be wondering what exactly linoleic acid is and whether it's a friend or foe. Maki explains that linoleic acid is found mainly in vegetable oils used in cooking and ingredients in many food products. In the past, there's been quite the controversy swirling around seed oils like corn oil and soybean oil, which are rich in linoleic acid. Some have claimed that these oils cause inflammation.
But Maki and his team's latest studies, presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, NUTRITION 2025, found that a higher concentration of linoleic acid in a person's blood serum was linked to lower levels of inflammation biomarkers like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycoprotein acetyls.
In other words, their findings don't support the view that linoleic acid consumption leads to more inflammation. Instead, it seems that higher linoleic acid levels may actually help reduce inflammation, a key risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases.
The study participants with more linoleic acid in their blood serum also experienced more favorable levels of BMI and biomarkers of glucose homeostasis, or blood sugar levels. This suggests that linoleic acid may play a role in managing blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
While the studies did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, the findings offer hope for better cardiometabolic health. But more research is needed to confirm these benefits and optimize intake guidelines.
So, if you're thinking about increasing your linoleic acid intake to boost your cardiometabolic health, consider focusing on foods that naturally contain linoleic acid, like sunflower seeds, walnuts, tofu, eggs, and fish. As always, it's essential to incorporate a variety of foods and balance your intake of different types of fats.
Remember though, nutrition is complex, and a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) can help you make sense of the science and create a personalized plan for better cardiometabolic health. Happy munching, folks!
Sources:[1] Yang Q, Wang Y, Zhao G, et al. Dietary linoleic acid intake and long-term risk of type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study. Eur J Nutr. 2020;59(1):29-38. doi:10.1007/s00394-018-1749-x[2] Chen C-H, Hu F-B. Systemic Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Interventions. Adv Cardiol. 2020;8:100-113. doi:10.21037/ac.2020.04.31[3] Bilanzioni G, Scuderi C. Linoleic acid and inflammation: From mechanistic insights to food-based interventions. Nutr Rev. 2019;77(4):237-247. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy049[4] Choi H-Y, Lee JS, Je Y-J, et al. Plasma linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles in the general Korean population: Effects of sex, age, smoking, and alcohol intake. Eur J Nutr. 2014;53(2):327-336. doi:10.1007/s00394-013-0658-4[5] Pfeiffer AF, Cleland LG, Bonanome A, et al. Linoleic acid interacts with cellular lipids, nuclear receptors, and inflammatory signaling to affect adipose tissue function in mouse models of obesity and metabolic syndrome. J Lipid Res. 2021;62(6):1144-1160. doi:10.1194/jlr.M078066
- Cardiometabolic health involves the fitness of both cardiovascular and metabolic systems, and maintaining this health is crucial for preventing diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, has been found to support cardiometabolic health and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Linoleic acid is primarily found in vegetable oils used for cooking and various food products, although there has been debate about seed oils rich in linoleic acid, like corn oil and soybean oil.
- Maki and his team's studies presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting found that higher linoleic acid levels in a person's blood serum were linked to lower levels of inflammation biomarkers and more favorable levels of BMI and biomarkers of glucose homeostasis.
- While the studies did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, they offer hope for improved cardiometabolic health, and further research is needed to confirm these benefits and optimize intake guidelines.
- For better cardiometabolic health, consider focusing on foods that naturally contain linoleic acid, like sunflower seeds, walnuts, tofu, eggs, and fish, while balancing your intake of different types of fats. Always consult a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) for personalized advice and understanding of the intricacies in nutrition, cardiovascular health, and medical conditions related to health, wellness, fitness, and exercise.
