A person ‘s cardiometabolic health is determined by how well their cardiovascular and metabolic systems are working. A person ‘s metabolic system ( Trusted Source ) tells you how well your body is using food for energy and keeping blood sugars under control. A person ‘s cardiovascular system suggests that they ‘ve got a good heart and a good flow of blood.
- Cardiometabolic health refers to the fitness of the body ‘s metabolic and cardiovascular systems.
- Someone ‘s risk of having cardiometabolic disorders ( such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes ) increases if they are in poor cardiometabolic health.
- Being exposed to a person’s diet and other lifestyle factors may also influence cardiometabolic health.
- A diet higher in the fatty acid linoleic acid, or omega-6, may have benefits for cardiometabolic health and a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, two recently published studies suggest.
Cardiometabolic disorders that people are more likely to develop when cardiometabolic health is poor include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
The chief scientist of Midwest Biomedical Research Kevin C. Maki, PhD and adjunct professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health-Bloomington, told Medical News Today that “atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorders – especially heart attack and stroke – are the leading cause of death in the U. S. ” About 10% of adults have type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as other conditions like renal failure.
Maki continues “It is widely known that lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise, smoking, sleep, etc. play a significant role in the development of these cardiometabolic illnesses. “”The core of efforts to lower cardiometabolic risks is lifestyle change. Many studies have shown that lifestyle changes reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
A diet high in the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid may improve cardiometabolic health and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, two new studies Maki is the lead author of and presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, NUTRITION 2025.
Linoleic acid: what is it?
For the two investigations, researchers analyzed the medical records of 1, 894 adults who had participated in an observational COVID-19 study. More than half of the study participants were classified as female and non-Hispanic White, and the average age was 50 years old and the body mass index (BMI) was 29.
The study primarily focused on the level of linoleic acid in each patient’s blood serum.
Maki added: “The amount of linoleic acid present in the blood is determined by the amount ingested in the food – higher intake means higher level in blood. “We therefore wanted to see if blood linoleic acid levels would be associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (including indicators of inflammation and regulation of blood glucose (sugar).
Reduced inflammation is associated with higher linoleic acid levels.
Maki and colleagues compared the data and found low levels of inflammation biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycoprotein acetyls) were associated with study participants with higher blood serum concentrations of linoleic acid.
“chronic inflammation is a risk factor for cardiometabolic illnesses, ” Maki wrote. Higher levels of C-reactive protein, in particular, have been linked with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, studies have shown. In addition, studies have found that medicines that reduce inflammation also lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
“We cannot say that this link is cause and effect because this was not an intervention study, ” Maki said. “Also we cannot say that this study contradicted the hypothesis that linoleic acid has a pro-inflammatory effect.
Higher levels of linoleic acid are associated with normal blood sugar and healthy BMI.
More interestingly, the same individuals who had higher serum levels of linoleic acid also had better BMIs and biomarkers of glucose homeostasis – such as blood sugar levels.
“Our findings converge with good benefits of linoleic acid consumption on cardiovascular risk parameters and not with adverse effects, as some online influencers have claimed, ” Maki said in a news release. But caution is necessary in interpretation of the findings.
“We will need to look at intervention studies to find out more about the impact of changing linoleic acid consumption on the risk factors we investigated, ” he said.
More studies on consuming more linoleic acid are required.
How these research were put to use MNU got a chance to chat with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiology and medical director of MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center’s Structural Heart Program in Laguna Hills, CA.
“This study found that lower blood glucose levels as well as inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycoprotein acetyls) were associated with higher blood levels of omega-6 fatty acid in the blood, which is an omega-6 fatty acid, ” Chen said. “The findings are consistent with our knowledge that linoleic acid, which is found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oil, is probably good for cardiometabolic health. “
One of the biggest diseases affecting our society is still heart disease – as essential for improving health outcomes, lifestyle changes (including changes in diet) are important in helping us to improve the cardiometabolic health of our patients, ” he said.
“The impact of high diet intake of linoleics on the development of cardiovascular disease should be prospectively monitored in future studies, ” he added.
Does my diet need to include extra linoleic acid?
Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, told readers considering taking up linoleic acid supplements in order to potentially improve their cardiometabolic health to know that the science of nutrition is convoluted and that the biomarkers that are used in studies have been influenced by many different factors.
Richard urged his readers to “try to include more whole foods, more often and to eat a range of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats”.
“So think of linoleic and other fatty acids as an adjunct or as an aid to improving the flavor of the food, like marinade, sauce or sauté, or as a way to add herbs and spices, or to adjust mouthfeel and wetness, ” she added.
“People with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome obviously don’t want to do too much risky overall patterns (of what they’re getting), quality ingredients and dosages, because poorly sourced linoleic acid may contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation.
