Fatty acids predict disease before symptoms show
Fatty acids may not seem like a sensational ingredient, but current research proves otherwise.
Throughout the second annual online Fatty Acid Symposium, scientists affiliated with OmegaQuant and the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI) shared recent developments — not only about the benefits afforded by omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids but also how fatty acid profiles may be indicative of future health issues.
This article rounds up the biggest takeaways from the experts and emerging evidence, highlighting important areas of interest for the dietary supplement industry.
Seed oils and health: Traditional thinking about omega-6 fatty acids is outdated
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the symposium was the omega-6 research update, in which attendees learned that a balanced diet and optimal nutrition require at least some seed oil consumption.
Omega-6 fatty acids are not a monolith, according to Heidi Lai, Ph.D., associate scientist at FARI. This runs counter to the narrative that seed oils are bad because of their high omega-6 fatty acids content.
In fact, linoleic acid (LA) — the most highly consumed omega-6 lipid — is associated with positive health outcomes. In a new study preprint undergoing peer review, lower weight, waist circumference and body fat mass are associated with circulating LA levels.
Additionally, researchers from FARI showed linoleic acid found in red blood cells was weakly but significantly inversely associated with several inflammation markers, countering previous thoughts that all omega-6 fatty acids cause inflammation.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, meaning the body cannot synthesize it on its own and it is required for proper health. The most common source of LA? Seed oils and vegetable oils, such as soy, corn and safflower.
So, are seed oils bad?
Overconsumption of omega-6 fatty acids and LA can, indeed, lead to chronic disease. However, the totality of the current evidence suggests seed oils should be consumed in moderation to provide essential nutrients . Experts suggest omega-6 fatty acids should comprise 1-2% of calories consumed, with an upper limit of 10% for LA, although on average adults consume in excess of that limit.
These new studies also call into question the biological relevance of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio . Prior research pointed to keeping the ratio low to reduce risk of disease — before the last century, the average ratio was 4:1. If not all omega-6 fatty acids are equal, however, new fatty acid measurements may need to be developed.
Omega-3s have a place in traditional medicine for supporting health and wellness
Omega-3s play a sizable role in improving health outcomes, from reducing cardiovascular events to supporting mental well-being and cognitive health. While this isn’t news, it was surprising to hear it from a medical practitioner.
Many physicians are skeptical of over-the-counter supplements, according to James O’Keefe, M.D., a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Missouri — Kansas City. Omega-3 supplements are “evidence-based therapy, although cardiologists don’t often acknowledge that,” O’Keefe said.
Current research associates omega-3 supplementation with a reduction in cardiovascular health events and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in particular significantly reduces risk of all-cause mortality.
Both O’Keefe and William Harris, the president and founder of FARI, discussed the controversy around omega-3s and atrial fibrillation (AFib). A review in the Korean Journal of Internal Medicine suggested high doses of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with increased risk of AFib.
However, O’Keefe, Harris and other scientists demonstrated in a more recent study that dietary consumption of omega-3s relates to reduced risk, while pharmaceutical doses increase AFib risk.
O’Keefe highlighted that the benefits of omega-3 supplementation outweigh the risks, explaining AFib increases stroke risk but omega-3s are associated with reduced risk of ischemic strokes. This kind of stroke, in which a clot or plaque prevents blood flow to the brain, comprises 87% of all strokes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Omega-3 supplementation had no association, positive or negative, with hemorrhagic stroke.
Fatty acid profiles can predict future disease
Current biomarkers for metabolic disease and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are diagnostic, but not prognostic. Thanks to a small-business innovation research grant from the National Institutes of Health, OmegaQuant is striving to change that, developing screening tools to predict the risk of these diseases.
Kristina Jackson, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of South Dakota and director of research at OmegaQuant Analytics, presented research in the literature that is informing the development of a fatty acid metabolic index for determining risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Glycemic dysfunction is the cornerstone of diabetes and only one aspect of metabolic disease, yet insulin dysfunction is central to many metabolic issues, Jackson explained.
A meta-analysis on prediabetes showed tests for insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function show changes four years before fasting glucose levels indicate a diabetes diagnosis.
“Glycemic metrics are excellent at diagnosing disease but may not be the earliest indicator of insulin resistance, the precursor to the disease,” Jackson said.
This led researchers to wonder if fatty acids could be used to predict type-2 diabetes earlier, helping to prevent the disease in the years before diagnosis. Certain classes of fatty acids, such as de novo lipogenesis fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids, are related to risk of metabolic disease, Jackson explained.
Similar logic also is being followed to develop a fatty acid dementia index. Nathan Tintle, Ph.D., executive director and lead biostatistician at the Fatty Acid Research Institute , shared that Alzheimer’s disease processes could start up to 18 years before diagnosis.
“Could fatty acids be used as the early ‘canary in the coal mine?’” Tintle asked.
Data suggest this could very well be the case. Research from the Framingham Offspring Cohort showed that higher DHA levels in red blood cells inversely correlate with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. SupplySide Supplement Journal previously reported on a UK Biobank study showing omega-3s were correlated with lower dementia risk.
Because of the long trajectory toward disease, clinical trials measuring the impact of supplementation are challenging. Tintle stressed the importance of balancing between gold-standard randomized controlled trials and epidemiological studies.
