Linoleic acid and the regulation of glucose homeostasis: A review of the evidence

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 175; p. 102366
• Main Authors: Hamilton, Jakob S., Klett, Eric L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Diet, Western; Diet-heart hypothesis; Female; Glucose - metabolism; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Insulin Secretion - drug effects; Linoleic acid; Linoleic Acid - administration & dosage; Linoleic Acid - pharmacology; Male; Modern western diet; Omega-6 PUFA; Oxylipins; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Diet-heart hypothesis; Omega-6 PUFA; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Modern western diet; Linoleic acid; Oxylipins
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2021.102366

•Linoleic acid (LA, ω−6 18:2) is an essential fatty acid that accounted for 1–2% of total energy intake in the pre-industrial revolution human diet. Since the mid-20th century, the consumption of LA in western civilizations has increased 10-fold in tandem with unprecedented incidence of chronic metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).•Epidemiologic studies, meta-analyses, and clinical trials have outlined the potential benefits and unintended consequences of diets substituting SFAs with LA.•Well-controlled interventional randomized control trials are needed to better inform current nutritional guidelines and clarify how dietary LA and other individual ω−6 PUFAs affect insulin resistance and peripheral glucose uptake in individuals with and without T2DM. The consumption of linoleic acid (LA, ω-6 18:2), the most common ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the Modern Western diet (MWD), has significantly increased over the last century in tandem with unprecedented incidence of chronic metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although an essential fatty acid for health, LA was a very rare fatty acid in the diet of humans during their evolution. While the intake of other dietary macronutrients (carbohydrates like fructose) has also risen, diets rich in ω-6 PUFAs have been promoted in an effort to reduce cardiovascular disease despite unclear evidence as to how increased dietary LA consumption could promote a proinflammatory state and affect glucose metabolism. Current evidence suggests that sex, genetics, environmental factors, and disease status can differentially modulate how LA influences insulin sensitivity and peripheral glucose uptake as well as insulin secretion and pancreatic beta-cell function. Therefore, the aim of this review will be to summarize recent additions to our knowledge to refine the unique physiological and pathophysiological roles of LA in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.