Eating more omega-6 fats—like those in vegetable oils—doesn’t appear to increase or decrease your risk of heart disease, based on this large review.

Scientific Claim

Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids from diet show no significant association with coronary disease risk, with a relative risk of 1.01 (95% CI: 0.96–1.07) when comparing highest to lowest intake thirds.

Original Statement

“In observational studies, relative risks for coronary disease were ... 1.01 (CI, 0.96 to 1.07) for ω-6 polyunsaturated ... when the top and bottom thirds of baseline dietary fatty acid intake were compared.”

From study:Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The claim correctly uses neutral language and reports the exact confidence interval, avoiding overinterpretation of a near-null effect.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2014 Mar 18

This big study looked at lots of people and found that eating more omega-6 fats (like those in vegetable oils) doesn’t make your heart disease risk go up or down — it stays about the same.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Score: 42

DOI: 10.7326/m13-1788

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