Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract only checked I-FAT-05 standard review
More linoleic acid (seed oils) linked to less heart disease
Dietary linoleic acid and risk of coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
Overview
Farvid MS et al.. Circulation 2014 · PMID 25161045 · DOI 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010236
CHD events RR 0.85 highest vs lowest intake.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
LA and CHD.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis of 13 cohorts.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
310,602 people.
- What was actually found?
Lower CHD risk.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 0.85 (0.78-0.92).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Corn/sunflower oils acceptable.
- What are the study's limitations?
Observational.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports alternative oils, not avoidance of olive oil.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Farvid MS et al.
- Journal
- Circulation
- Year
- 2014
- Identifier
- PMID 25161045 DOI 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010236
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Grants listed in PubMed: NCI NIH HHS, NHLBI NIH HHS, NIDDK NIH HHS
2. Research question
Dietary linoleic acid and CHD.
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohorts (incl. unpublished pooling data).
- Population
310,602 individuals; 12,479 CHD events
- Country
Multinational
- Period
Search to June 2013
- Sample size
13 cohorts
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Prospective cohorts.
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Linoleic acid
- Comparator
Lowest category; replacing SFA
- Endpoints
CHD events and deaths.
- Statistical methods
Fixed-effect meta-analysis.
5. Actual results
- Results
Highest vs lowest LA: CHD events RR 0.85 (0.78-0.92), CHD deaths 0.79 (0.71-0.89); 5% energy LA replacing SFA: CHD events 0.91 (0.87-0.96), deaths 0.87 (0.82-0.94).
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
LA inversely associated with CHD; supports replacing saturated with polyunsaturated fat.
6. Strengths
- Large; dose-response
7. Weaknesses
- Observational
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Abstract-level.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Consistent inverse association.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Supports using corn/sunflower oil (part of C-FAT-04).
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Moderate.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Seed-oil fats associated with lower CHD.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | high |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | mixed |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
RCT discrepancy.