For a well-established nutrient, linoleic acid is still about as controversial as
it gets. At one extreme, some swear by it for cholesterol-lowering; at the other extreme,
it is seen as the main impediment to reaping the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and,
hence, as a major obstacle to better health. What is responsible for these largely
incompatible positions? In general, this type of polarization is because of one or
both of the following problems: Either flimsy evidence has become entrenched as dogma
but without sufficient validation, or there is an absence of key information that
could logically explain paradoxical outcomes. A couple of observations suggest both
these problems apply to linoleic acid.
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Published online: October 03, 2011
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© 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc.
