Study Finds No Link Between Vegetable Oil, Inflammation

COLUMBIA, Mo.No link exists between vegetable oil consumption and circulating indicators of inflammation that are often associated with diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, asthma and arthritis, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A typical American consumes approximately 3 or more tablespoons of vegetable oil each day. Vegetable oils, like those from soy, corn and canola, are a significant source of calories and are rich in linoleic acid (LA), which is an essential nutrient.

Since the 1970s, researchers have known that linoleic acid helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, and for decades, scientists have known that consuming linoleic acid can help lower the risk of heart disease. However, some experts have been claiming recently that Americans might be getting too much of a good thing. A new study from the University of Missouri contradicts that claim.

Researchers at the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois who conducted the study said while earlier animal studies have shown that a diet rich in linoleic acid can promote inflammation, the researchers said humans respond to linoleic acid differently.

In the field of nutrition and health, animals arent people," said Kevin Fritsche, an MU professor of animal science and nutrition in the Division of Animal Sciences. Were not saying that you should just go out and consume vegetable oil freely. However, our evidence does suggest that you can achieve a heart-healthy diet by using soybean, canola, corn and sunflower oils instead of animal-based fats when cooking."

Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that is a major component of most vegetable oils. This fatty acid is an essential nutrient and comprising 50% or more of most vegetable oils.

The researchers conducted one of the most thorough studies on linoleic acid questioning whether this fatty acid promotes inflammation in humans. When the evidence from numerous clinical trials was gathered and examined, they said it was clear that linoleic acid consumption did not promote inflammation in healthy people.

Some previous studies have shown that inflammation, which is an immune response in the body, can occur when certain fats are consumed," Fritsche said. Weve come to realize that this inflammation, which can occur anywhere in the body, can cause or promote chronic diseases. We know that animal fats can encourage inflammation, but in this study, weve been able to rule out vegetable oil as a cause."

The researchers reviewed 15 clinical trials that studied nearly 500 adults as they consumed various forms of fats, including vegetable oils. They could find no evidence that a diet high in linoleic acid had any links to inflammation in the body. Due to this discovery, the researchers say that it is important to continue following the current recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and the American Heart Association to use vegetable oil when cooking and consume between 2 and 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil daily to reach the necessary amount of linoleic acid needed for a heart-healthy diet.

Consumers are regularly bombarded with warnings about what foods they should avoid," Fritsche said. While limiting the overall fat intake is also part of the current nutrition recommendations, we hope people will feel comfortable cooking with vegetable oils."