Systematic reviewindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key study I-FSH-109 in-depth review

Omega-6 linoleic acid does not raise inflammation markers

Effect of dietary linoleic acid on markers of inflammation in healthy persons: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Overview

Johnson GH, Fritsche K. J Acad Nutr Diet 2012 · PMID 22889633 · DOI 10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.029

In 15 controlled trials, more linoleic acid did not increase markers such as CRP or cytokines.

Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: Test the omega-6 inflammation hypothesis.
How was the study done?: Systematic review of 15 RCTs.
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: Healthy adults.
What was actually found?: No increase in inflammatory markers.
How large was the observed effect?: None significant.
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Omega-6 in food is not shown to cause inflammation.
What are the study's limitations?: Healthy people; no pooling.
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Undercuts the 'pro-inflammatory' label.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: High.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Effects in people with inflammatory disease.

Authors: Johnson GH, Fritsche K
Journal: J Acad Nutr Diet
Year: 2012
Identifier: PMID 22889633 DOI 10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.029
Verification: verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref checked
Retracted: no
Corrections: none
Extent checked: abstract only
Conflicts of interest and funding: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't (funder not named in abstract)

Does more dietary linoleic acid raise inflammatory markers?

Study design: Systematic review – Systematic review of RCTs
Population: Healthy non-infant humans
Country: Multiple
Period: Literature to about 2011
Sample size: 15 RCTs (8 parallel, 7 crossover)
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: RCTs varying LA intake that measured inflammatory markers

Results: 'None of the studies reported significant findings for a wide variety of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, cytokines, soluble vascular adhesion molecules, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha.' 'Virtually no evidence is available from randomized, controlled intervention studies among healthy, noninfant human beings to show that addition of LA to the diet increases the concentration of inflammatory markers.'
Absolute risks: not applicable
Authors' conclusion: No RCT evidence that adding LA increases inflammatory markers.

C-FSH-05/C-FSH-07: the mechanism 'omega-6 makes a food pro-inflammatory' is not supported by RCTs.

High.

Key mechanistic counter-evidence.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	moderate
Risk of bias	some concerns
Precision of results	moderate
Directness	indirect
Reproducibility	replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	consistent
Regional transferability	high
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable