A new study using blood biomarkers has found that linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid found in seed oils like soybean and corn oil, may help reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The findings add to growing evidence that seed oils may actually support, not harm, cardiometabolic health, challenging claims that they increase inflammation and disease risk.
The research was presented by Dr. Kevin C. Maki, adjunct professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health and chief scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research, during the NUTRITION 2025 conference in Orlando, Florida, hosted by the American Society for Nutrition.
“There’s been a lot of debate about whether seed oils are harmful, but our study shows that people with higher levels of linoleic acid in their blood have a healthier metabolic profile,” said Dr. Maki.
Unlike previous studies that relied on self-reported food intake, this study used blood plasma markers—a more objective and accurate way to measure how much linoleic acid people were actually consuming. The data came from 1,894 participants in a long-term observational study originally focused on COVID-19, but rich in health information.
Key findings include:
Higher linoleic acid levels in the blood were linked to lower blood sugar and insulin levels.
Participants with more linoleic acid also had lower HOMA-IR scores, a sign of better insulin sensitivity.
Inflammation biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, glycoprotein acetyls, and serum amyloid A, were also lower in those with higher linoleic acid levels.
This suggests that linoleic acid may help reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar regulation, both of which are key to preventing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The findings align with previous large-scale observational studies showing that diets high in linoleic acid are linked to fewer heart attacks and a lower risk of developing diabetes. However, what makes this study unique is its reliance on biological evidence rather than dietary surveys or food frequency questionnaires.
Despite the benefits shown here, linoleic acid has often been criticized by popular wellness trends and social media influencers, particularly because of its presence in seed oils. Some claim these oils are pro-inflammatory.
But Dr. Maki emphasized that these fears are not supported by the science: “We saw consistent positive results across every key biomarker we looked at.”
The research team now plans to conduct intervention studies—controlled trials that will test whether deliberately increasing linoleic acid intake through diet can actively lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart attack and diabetes.
Until then, the study provides reassurance that including foods rich in linoleic acid—such as vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and plant-based spreads—may be a heart-healthy choice, not something to avoid.
These findings may help shape future dietary guidelines and inform public conversations about fats and oils, especially as rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease continue to rise.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about diabetes and vitamin B12, and the right diet for people with type 2 diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat smart with diabetes, and turmeric and vitamin D: a duo for blood pressure control in diabetic patients.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
