The Study
High omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid and oxylipin ratio in plasma is linked to an adverse cardiometabolic profile in middle-aged adults.
This study looked at a group of people and found that those with more omega-6 fats in their blood also tended to have higher blood sugar and liver markers — and those with more omega-3 fats had better numbers. But it didn’t change anyone’s diet or track them over time, so we can’t say the fats caused the differences — just that they showed up together.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Your body turns fats from food into signaling molecules. Some from vegetable oils (omega-6) make your body more inflamed and less able to use sugar, while omega-3 fats from fish do the opposite.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — these changes are linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and heart disease, even in people who aren't yet diagnosed.
- 2People with more omega-6 oxylipins had 36% higher insulin resistance and 13% lower 'good' cholesterol (HDL).
- 3Omega-3 oxylipins were linked to better insulin control.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
Year
2023
Authors
L. Jurado-Fasoli, Francisco J. Osuna-Prieto, Wei Yang, I. Kohler, Xinyu Di, P. Rensen, M. Castillo, B. Martínez-Téllez, F. Amaro-Gahete
Related Content
Claims (7)
Diets with a high ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids are associated with increased levels of systemic inflammation.
Eating too many omega-6 fats (like in vegetable oils) compared to omega-3 fats (like in fish) can make your body more inflamed, which can damage your blood vessels and lead to clogged arteries over time.
In middle-aged adults, higher levels of certain omega-6-derived molecules in the blood are linked to higher markers of insulin resistance and liver dysfunction.
Middle-aged adults with higher levels of certain omega-3 breakdown products in their blood have lower insulin levels and a lower HOMA index, indicating better insulin sensitivity.
In middle-aged adults, a higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and related oxylipins in the blood is linked to higher insulin resistance, higher triglycerides, higher LDL cholesterol, and lower HDL cholesterol, which together define a cardiometabolic risk profile.
In middle-aged adults, a higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 oxylipins in the blood is linked to worse metabolic health, including increased insulin resistance, abnormal blood fats, and higher liver enzyme levels, even when accounting for standard risk factors like obesity and smoking.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.