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Dietary linoleic acid and human health: Focus on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic effects.

NFI, Nutrition Foundation of Italy, Viale Tunisia 38, 20124, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: marangoni@nutrition-foundation.it. Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via della Commenda 10, 20122, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (DISCCO), University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 5, 20122, Milan, Italy. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy. Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; IRCCS MultiMedica Sesto S. Giovanni, Via Milanese 300, 20099, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy. Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy; Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Service, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, ICS Maugeri IRCCS, Via Salvatore Maugeri 4, 27100, Pavia, Italy. Consiglio per la ricerca in Agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia Agraria, CREA, Alimenti e Nutrizione, Via Po 145, 00198, Rome, Italy. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (DISCCO), University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 5, 20122, Milan, Italy. Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 40/50, 40127, Bologna, Italy. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy. IRCCS MultiMedica Sesto S. Giovanni, Via Milanese 300, 20099, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy; Center for the Study of Atherosclerosis, E. Bassini Hospital, Via Gorki 50, 20091, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy. Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolism research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121, Padua, Italy; IMDEA-Food, Crta. de Cantoblanco 8, 28049, Madrid, Spain. NFI, Nutrition Foundation of Italy, Viale Tunisia 38, 20124, Milan, Italy.

Atherosclerosis. 2020;:90-98
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Abstract

This narrative review aims to discuss the more relevant evidence on the role of linoleic acid (LA), a n-6 essential fatty acid that constitutes the predominant proportion of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), in cardiovascular health. Although LA can be metabolized into Arachidonic Acid (AA), a 20 carbon PUFA which is the precursor of eicosanoids, including some with proinflammatory or prothrombotic-vasoconstrictor action, the large majority of experimental and clinical studies have assessed the potential benefit of increasing dietary intake of LA. Overall, data from clinical studies and meta-analyses suggest an association between high dietary intakes or tissue levels of n-6 PUFA, and specifically LA, and the improvement of cardiovascular risk (mainly of the plasma lipid profile), as well as long-term glycaemic control and insulin resistance. Most observational data show that elevated/increased dietary intake or tissue levels of LA is associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases (mainly coronary artery diseases) and of new onset metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. The effects of LA (or n-6 PUFA) in other physio-pathological areas are less clear. High quality clinical trials are needed to assess both the actual amplitude and the underlying mechanisms of the health effects related to dietary intake of this essential fatty acid.

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Publication Type : Review

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