Does Replacing Saturated Fat with Linoleic Acid Reduce Heart Disease Risk?
Dr. Kumar’s Take:
For decades, we’ve been told to replace saturated fats with vegetable oils high in omega-6 linoleic acid (LA) to reduce heart disease risk. However, a re-analysis of the Sydney Diet Heart Study (SDHS) suggests that this strategy may not be as beneficial as once believed. Men who replaced saturated fat with linoleic acid had higher mortality rates, including deaths from heart disease. This study raises important questions about the role of different fats in cardiovascular health and suggests that increasing omega-6 without balancing it with omega-3 fats may be harmful.
