Heart Healthy" Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fat Doubles Risk for Ulcerative Coliti

Dietary linoleic acid, the most commonly eaten omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, doubles the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, according to a large European study published in Gut 2009.

Background: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which hampers quality of life and increases the risk of colon cancer. The cause of this disease is not known, but researchers believe it may be related to excess omega-6 polyunsaturated fat in the diet.

Dietary linoleic acid is the chief omega-6 polyunsaturated fat eaten in westernized countries, which has increased markedly in the last century. Linoleic acid is found in soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, margarines, and salad dressings.

Study: Over 200,000 men and women (yes, nearly a quarter-of-a-million people), were enrolled in this study, which spans 10 countries. Diet and nutrient biomarkers were evaluated. In the analysis, using a nested case-control method, each person that developed ulcerative colitis was matched with four randomly selected controls.

Results: A high dietary intake of the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid, more than doubled the risk of developing ulcerative colitis. Nearly one-third of the cases of ulcerative colitis were attributed to higher dietary linoleic acid levels.

The scientists believe that there is substantial potential for reducing the incidence of ulcerative colitis through changes in the diet.

Comment: The amount of linoleic acid associated with increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis was 6 grams for women and 8 grams for men. To put that into perspective, the mean intake of linoleic acid in the USA is 13.0 grams per day.

For more information see:

Hart, ARLinoleic Acid, a Dietary N-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid, and the Aetiology of Ulcerative Colitis - A European Prospective Cohort Study.Gut 2009 0: gut.2008.169078s.

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