Latest news with #cardiometabolichealth
Medical News Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Seed oils: Omega-6 fatty acids may lower diabetes, heart disease risk
Higher linoleic acid levels may help lower heart disease and diabetes risk, a new study finds. JavierCardiometabolic health is a gauge of the fitness of the body's cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Poor cardiometabolic health may increase a person's risk for cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes . . Lifestyle factors such as diet can also impact a person's cardiometabolic health. Two new studies recently presented report that consuming a diet higher in linoleic acid, or omega-6 fatty acids, may help support cardiometabolic health, and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 'Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases — mainly heart attack and stroke — are the leading cause of death in the U.S.,' Kevin C. Maki, PhD, adjunct professor in the School of Public Health-Bloomington at Indiana University and chief scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research told Medical News Today . 'Type 2 diabetes is very common — about 10% of the adult population — and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as well as other issues such as kidney failure.' 'It is well accepted that lifestyle — diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep , etc. — is important for the development of these cardiometabolic disorders,' Maki continued. 'Lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of efforts to minimize cardiometabolic risks. We have a large body of evidence to demonstrate that lifestyle interventions can improve risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.' Maki is the lead author of two new studies recently presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, NUTRITION 2025, which has found that consuming a diet higher in the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid may help support cardiometabolic health, and lower a person's risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. For these studies, researchers analyzed medical data from 1,894 adult participants of an observational study focused on COVID-19. Study participants had an average age of 50, an average body mass index (BMI) of 29, and more than half identified as female and non-Hispanic White. Scientists focused on the amount of linoleic acid found in the serum in the blood of all participants. Are seed oils bad? 'Linoleic acid is found mainly in vegetable oils that are used in cooking and are ingredients in many food products. Recently, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding 'seed oils' such as corn oil and soybean oil. Some have claimed that these seed oils, which are rich in linoleic acid, cause inflammation.' — Kevin C. Maki, PhD 'The level of linoleic acid in the blood is influenced by how much is consumed in the diet — higher intake leading to a higher level in the blood,' Maki continued. 'We were interested in looking at the level of linoleic acid in the blood to see if it would be associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, specifically biomarkers of inflammation and blood glucose (sugar) regulation.' Upon analysis, Maki and his team found that study participants with a higher concentration of linoleic acid in their blood serum were linked to lower levels of the inflammation biomarkers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycoprotein acetyls. 'Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases,' Maki explained. 'In particular, many studies have shown that a higher level of C-reactive protein is associated with increased risks for heart attack and stroke. There are also studies showing that drugs that reduce inflammation lower risks for heart attack and stroke.' Are omega-6 fatty acids inflammatory? 'Our findings do not support the view that higher linoleic acid intake is associated with more inflammation. In fact, they are more consistent with the opposite view because higher linoleic acid was associated with lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers.' — Kevin C. Maki, PhD 'Some caution is needed because this was not an intervention study, so we cannot say that this association is cause and effect,' Maki added. 'We can only say that we found the opposite of what would be predicted if linoleic acid was having a pro-inflammatory effect.' Additionally, researchers found these same participants with more linoleic acid in their serum also experienced more favorable levels of BMI and biomarkers of glucose homeostasis, or even blood sugar levels. 'Higher BMI, along with higher fasting levels of glucose and insulin are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that a higher circulating level of linoleic acid is associated with lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Our results are consistent with those, since they show lower levels of risk factors for type 2 diabetes in those with higher levels of linoleic acid in the blood.' — Kevin C. Maki, PhD 'While we have to be cautious about interpretation of the results, our findings are consistent with favorable effects of linoleic acid consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors and not with unfavorable effects, as has been claimed by some online influencers,' Maki said. 'Intervention studies will be needed to further investigate the influence of changing intake of linoleic acid on the risk factors we studied,' he added. MNT had the opportunity to speak with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, about these studies. 'This research found that increased blood levels of linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) were associated with lower blood glucose levels and lower levels of inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycoprotein acetyls,' Chen commented. 'These findings are in line with our understanding of linoleic acid — found in vegetable oil, nuts, and seeds — as likely being beneficial to cardiometabolic health.' 'Heart disease continues to be one of the major disease burdens in our society. Lifestyle modifications such as diet improvements are essential in helping us improve cardiometabolic health in our patients and are a necessary part of improving health outcomes,' he said. 'Future research should prospectively study the impact of increased linoleic intake in the diet on the development of cardiovascular disease,' he added. For readers who are now thinking about increasing their linoleic acid intake to possibly improve their cardiometabolic health, Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, urged them to remember that the biomarkers measured in the studies are influenced by a variety of factors and nutrition science is complex. Why nutrition is more than one 'magic' ingredient 'Nutrition science is rarely about one nutrient in isolation — context is everything. Nutrition is about patterns, not just parts. Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid, and like all nutrients, its benefit depends on the company it keeps. Foods that naturally contain linoleic acid — like sunflower seeds, walnuts, tofu, eggs, and fish — come packaged with fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, not just isolated fats.' — Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN 'Consider linoleic and other fatty acids to be an accessory or an assistant in helping bring out the food's flavor, such as in a saute, marinade, sauce, or a vehicle to add spice, herbs, or enhance mouthfeel and moisture,' she continued. 'Chronic low-grade inflammation can be exacerbated from poor dietary sources of linoleic acid, so those that have conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome do need to be aware of overall patterns, quality of ingredients, and amounts,' Richard added. Omega-3 vs. omega-6 ratio important 'It is important to note the necessary and optimal balance of the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (is) something a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can assist in assessing.' — Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN Diabetes Type 2 Heart Disease Cardiovascular / Cardiology Nutrition / Diet
Health Line
12-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
3-Month Intermittent Fasting Program Led to Significant Weight Loss
A 3-month time-restricted eating (TRE) protocol resulted in up to one year of sustained weight loss in people with overweight or obesity. Adhering to an 8-hour window of eating led to greater weight loss than eating throughout the day, whether early or late. Researchers say that TRE may lead to lasting behavioral and physiological changes that may aid long-term cardiometabolic health. New research suggests that a three-month protocol of time-restricted eating may help people with overweight and obesity lose weight and maintain that loss for at least one year. Time-restricted eating (TRE), a form of intermittent fasting, has gained popularity in recent years to aid weight loss. The idea is simple: instead of limiting what you eat, limit when you eat. Individuals who practice TRE typically choose a daily eating window of 8 to 12 hours. The goal is to reduce snacking and overall calorie intake by avoiding food outside the designated window. While early research on TRE remains limited, new findings presented at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, on May 11–14, suggest it could be a useful strategy for improving long-term cardiometabolic health. 'TRE offers a simplified and time-efficient alternative to traditional dieting. It eliminates the need for calorie counting and food tracking, which are common barriers to long-term adherence,' said lead investigator Jonatan R. Ruiz, PhD, professor in the department of Sport Sciences at the University of Granada. 'Our findings support the notion that behavioral simplicity enhances sustainability,' he told Healthline. Ruiz's team also observed that weight loss occurred regardless of when participants scheduled their eating window, suggesting that the approach offers considerable flexibility and can be adapted to fit individual lifestyles and routines. TRE led to long-term weight loss The research builds on a previous randomized controlled trial of TRE conducted by the same team, with results published in Nature Medicine earlier this year. That study found that narrowing the eating window from 12 to 8 hours per day led to weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic health. The latest findings introduce a significant long-term follow-up period, offering insight into whether those health benefits are sustained over time. However, the research has not yet been submitted for peer-reviewed publication. The study was a randomized controlled trial that followed 99 adults with overweight or obesity for 12 months in Granada, Spain. The cohort was evenly split between males and females, with an average age of 49. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups for three months: Habitual eating: Continued regular eating patterns, with a window 12 or more hours Early TRE: An 8-hour eating window starting before 10:00 a.m. Late TRE: An 8-hour eating window starting after 1:00 p.m. Self-selected TRE: Participants chose their own 8-hour eating window All groups, including the habitual eating group, took part in a Mediterranean Diet education program. After the 12-week intervention, all TRE groups lost significantly more weight than the habitual group — between 3.5% and 4.5% of body weight (about 8 pounds), compared to just 1.5% (3 pounds) in the habitual group. Anthropometric measurements showed greater improvements in waist and hip circumference among the TRE groups. The early TRE group had the most substantial reductions, more than 1.5 inches at both sites. The late and self-selected groups saw similar, though more modest, changes. Meanwhile, the habitual group lost less than half an inch in either measurement. The most notable results came during the 12-month follow-up, which assessed the durability of those outcomes. Once again, all three TRE groups outperformed the habitual group. While the habitual group regained about one pound, participants in the TRE groups maintained modest weight loss. Both the early and late TRE groups sustained roughly 2% weight loss, and the self-selected group retained a 0.7% reduction. Waist and hip outcomes varied by group. The late TRE group showed the greatest improvements, with more than two inches lost at the waist and 1.3 inches at the hips. In contrast, the habitual group gained roughly an inch around the waist. The early and self-selected TRE groups maintained reductions as well, but those changes were not statistically significant. 'Most prior studies on TRE have focused on short-term outcomes, often ranging from 4 to 12 weeks,' said Ruiz. 'Our research provides one of the few datasets that includes long-term follow-up after the intervention, and it demonstrates that the initial weight loss benefits are largely maintained over time.' Adherence rates — the proportion of individuals who were able to stick with the TRE protocol — were also noteworthy, ranging from 85% to 88%. Long-term adherence to any diet is often challenging, so these findings are promising for the potential of TRE. 'We believe this is due to the low cognitive and behavioral burden of TRE compared to traditional calorie-restriction diets. Participants did not need to count calories or eliminate specific foods — they simply adjusted the timing of their meals,' said Ruiz. Long-term TRE benefits, safety not well understood Despite the growing popularity of TRE as a form of intermittent fasting, evidence related to weight loss and long-term health benefits is still lacking. 'There is a good deal of conflicting information on the effect of time-restricted eating on weight loss,' said David B. Sarwer, PhD, director at the Center for Obesity Research and Education. Temple University and a spokesperson for the Obesity Society. Sarwer was not affiliated with the research. 'While these results are encouraging, it is very important that when an individual is considering a time-restricted approach to eating, or significantly decreasing caloric intake, his or her physician believes it is a safe approach,' he told Healthline. A 2023 review of TRE evidence concluded that while many studies show potential benefits, the effects are typically small, and that larger, multiyear trials, especially in healthy populations, are still needed. TRE has been associated with improvements in: weight gain fat mass glucose intolerance insulin resistance fasting glucose malabsorption inflammation TRE is not without its critics either. A controversial research presentation at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in 2024 suggested that TRE was associated with a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. However, as a retrospective study, it cannot establish causality, and it's unclear whether TRE itself was responsible for the increased risk. Side effects of TRE are also possible, including: hunger headaches lightheadedness fatigue dehydration Some people, including those over 75 years of age or pregnant, should not try TRE. As Sarwer pointed out, anyone beginning TRE should consult their physician. 'For an individual with weight-related health problems such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, decreasing intake or not eating at all for extended periods of time can lead to suboptimal control of those conditions and unwanted side effects throughout the day,' said Sarwer. Despite these caveats, TRE may still be an appealing and effective aid for weight loss and cardiometabolic health for many people. 'We hypothesize that TRE may induce lasting changes in behavioral patterns and circadian alignment, which persist beyond the active intervention. Restricting food intake to a consistent daily window could reinforce circadian rhythms, improve metabolic efficiency, and reduce late-night eating, which is often associated with excess caloric intake and weight gain,' said Ruiz.
