Why soybean oil might mess with your brain and blood sugar
Dysregulation of Hypothalamic Gene Expression and the Oxytocinergic System by Soybean Oil Diets in Male Mice
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Oxytocin was the only gene linked to inflammation, neuroendocrine signaling, AND metabolism—all three—among dozens of dysregulated genes.
Most studies look at inflammation or insulin resistance separately. Finding one gene tied to all three pathways suggests oxytocin is a central, overlooked regulator of metabolic health.
Practical Takeaways
Check ingredient labels: avoid processed foods with soybean oil, canola oil, or other high-LA vegetable oils. Choose coconut oil, olive oil, or butter instead.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Oxytocin was the only gene linked to inflammation, neuroendocrine signaling, AND metabolism—all three—among dozens of dysregulated genes.
Most studies look at inflammation or insulin resistance separately. Finding one gene tied to all three pathways suggests oxytocin is a central, overlooked regulator of metabolic health.
Practical Takeaways
Check ingredient labels: avoid processed foods with soybean oil, canola oil, or other high-LA vegetable oils. Choose coconut oil, olive oil, or butter instead.
Publication
Journal
Endocrinology
Year
2020
Authors
Poonamjot Deol, Elena V. Kozlova, Matt Valdez, Catherine Ho, Ei-Wen Yang, Holly Richardson, Gwendolyn M. González, Edward Truong, Jack Reid, Joe Valdez, Jonathan R. Deans, Jose Martinez-Lomeli, Jane R. Evans, Tao Jiang, F. Sladek, M. Currás-Collazo
Related Content
Claims (6)
When male mice eat soybean oil, even if they don’t gain weight, their blood sugar control gets worse — suggesting that the type of fat in their food might directly mess with how their body handles sugar.
When male mice eat soybean oil instead of coconut oil, their brain’s control center shows more changes in genes linked to swelling, hormone signals, and health problems like obesity — and only one gene, Oxt, is affected in all three ways.
Eating a lot of soybean oil over a long time might mess up the brain’s control center for hunger, how your body uses energy, and even how you interact with others.
When male mice eat a lot of soybean oil, their brains make more of a hormone called oxytocin, and more of it shows up in their blood—but less of it is visible in certain brain areas, which might mean their bodies are releasing it differently.
When male mice eat soybean oil, they develop problems with blood sugar and a brain hormone called oxytocin—but it’s not because of two specific chemicals in the oil (linoleic acid or stigmasterol), since even soybean oil with less of those chemicals causes the same problems, and adding those chemicals to coconut oil doesn’t make the problems happen.