Soybean Oil Linked to Health Issues Including Obesity & Gut Disorders

New research conducted at the University of California, Riverside, USA, has shed light on the potential harm of soybean oil consumption. 

The study has associated the high use of soybean oil with obesity, diabetes, ulcerative colitis as well as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression.

The findings of the study has been published by news agency ANI. The study carried out on mice subjected to a high-soybean-oil diet for up to 24 weeks, revealed a decrease in beneficial gut bacteria and an increase in harmful bacteria, which can lead to colitis and other health problems.

To mitigate these risks, the researchers have recommend monitoring soybean oil consumption to avoid excessive linoleic acid intake.

Soybean oil usage has been on the rise not only in Indian households but also in countries like the United States, Brazil, and China.

The findings challenge the long-held belief that chronic diseases primarily stem from the consumption of saturated fats from animal products, while unsaturated fats from plants are deemed healthier.

Poonamjot Deol, an assistant professional researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and a co-corresponding author of the study published in Gut Microbes, a peer-reviewed open-access journal, emphasized that it is specifically linoleic acid in soybean oil that raises concerns.

While the body requires only 1-2 per cent of linoleic acid per day according to the paleo diet, Americans are currently obtaining 8-10 per cent of their daily energy from linoleic acid, with soybean oil being the primary source. This excessive intake negatively affects the gut microbiome, as explained by Deol.

The study further revealed that a soybean oil-rich diet promotes the growth of adherent invasive E. coli in the gut, exacerbating the potential health risks. Considering that most processed foods and restaurants in the United States incorporate soybean oil due to its cost-effectiveness, it is unsurprising that many Americans exceed the recommended daily allowance for linoleic acid.