The Claim

Soybean oil consumption in the United States increased from less than 0.01 kg per capita in 1909 to over 11 kg by 1999, which coincided with a more than doubling of dietary linoleic acid (LA) intake from 2.8% to 7.2% of total energy and a 136% increase in LA levels in human adipose tissue, indicating a significant shift in the fatty acid composition of the modern diet.

Source: Seed Oils as a Hypothesized Contributor to Heart Disease: A Narrative Synthesis.

What the research says

Roughly balanced

Support and challenge are close. The picture may shift as more studies come in.

Supports
1score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Americans started eating way more soybean oil over the 20th century, and this change is linked to big increases in a type of fat called linoleic acid in both our diets and our body fat.

See the scientific wording

Soybean oil consumption in the United States increased from less than 0.01 kg per capita in 1909 to over 11 kg by 1999, coinciding with a more than doubling of dietary linoleic acid (LA) intake from 2.8% to 7.2% of total energy, and a 136% increase in LA levels in human adipose tissue, indicating a profound shift in the fatty acid composition of the modern diet.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Seed Oils as a Hypothesized Contributor to Heart Disease: A Narrative Synthesis.

    The study talks about the same big increase in soybean and seed oils that the claim mentions, and agrees it led to more linoleic acid in people’s diets and bodies.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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