Vegetable Oils are Good for Heart Health

According to a new study, vegetable oils are good for the heart, and no link exists between vegetable oil and risk of heart complications.

Vegetables oils are considered good for the heart because they contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), more specifically omega-6 linoleic acid.

According to Medline Plus, saturated fats increase levels of LDL, or bad fats in the body, and so raise a person's chances of heart disease and stroke. Ideally, only 10 percent of a person's daily energy must come from saturated fats in the diet. However, recent studies have shown that replacing animal fat with vegetable oil may not be a healthier option.

In the present study, researchers from University of Missouri and the University of Illinois challenge the idea that vegetable oils may not be good for heart health.

"We're 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," said Kevin Fritsche, an MU professor of animal science and nutrition in the Division of Animal Sciences.

For the study review, researchers obtained data from 15 clinical trials that included 500 men and women. The study participants consumed all kinds of fats, including vegetable oil and animal fats.

The study review showed that vegetable oil consumption couldn't be linked with inflammation in the body. Researchers said that people should continue following dietary recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and the American Heart Association and increase their intake of linoleic acid.

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

"Effect of Dietary Linoleic Acid on Markers of Inflammation in Healthy Persons: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials," is published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.