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Linoleic acid - factsheet

Date of issue: June 2008

This factsheet provides the background about why linoleic acid is thought to be important for people with some types of MS. For individual dietary advice, ask your GP to refer you to a dietitian.

Contents

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What is linoleic acid?
Why linoleic acid is important?
What is the best dose of linoleic acid
Sources of linoleic acid
References

What is linoleic acid?

Linoleic acid is a naturally occurring essential fatty acid, present in a variety of foods, including the oils of seeds and nuts, such as sunflower, safflower and sesame seeds. Fat is needed in the diet in order to provide essential fatty acids. It is also a major source of energy (calories). Fats consist of a mixture of fatty acids, the proportions of which determine the type of fat.

There are two main types of fat:

  • saturated fat - normally hard at room temperature. This is present in meat, butter and hard cheese. Consumption of too much saturated fat is known to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers
  • unsaturated fat - soft or liquid at room temperature, often present as oil, and including margarine, vegetable, seed and fish oils.

Unsaturated fats can be either monounsaturated, e.g. olive oil, or polyunsaturated. Essential fatty acids are the 'building blocks' of polyunsaturated fats. The body is unable to manufacture these itself, so everyone needs to consume them in their diet, hence the name 'essential fatty acids'. One significant group of essential fatty acids is known as omega-6, of which linoleic acid is a member.

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Why linoleic acid is important?

In the early 1980s, three separate trials were conducted, looking at the importance of dietary linoleic acid for people with MS[1]. 181 people with MS took part, 90 people receiving linoleic acid and 91 receiving oleic acid, a non-essential fatty acid that is naturally present in olive oil, as a control substance.

Two of the trials gave participants 17 grams (g) daily of linoleic acid, in the form of sunflower oil, with 8g daily of olive oil as the control substance. The third trial gave participants 23g daily of linoleic acid in the form of a sunflower spread, with participants in the control group receiving 16g of olive oil spread daily.

Patients on the trials were followed for an average of 2½ years. Everyone included in the trials was able to walk, and whilst two of the trials looked only at relapsing/remitting MS, one trial also included people with progressive MS. Participants in the trials were examined at least every six months, for changes to their levels of ability on the Expanded Disability Status Scale - a neurological rating scale. Any relapses that had occurred since the previous visit were also recorded.

Results from these trials showed that people receiving linoleic acid showed less accumulation of disability over time, compared with those people who received oleic acid. This was most noticeable in people who had little or no disability when they started on the trial, suggesting that linoleic acid is of most benefit to people who are newly diagnosed.

Linoleic acid did not appear to affect the number of relapses that people had. A more marked effect was seen on the severity and duration of relapses. Those people who received linoleic acid experienced shorter relapses, whatever their level of disability when the trials started.

As a result of this research, linoleic acid has been recommended in the NICE guidelines for management of MS[2] as a treatment that may help to slow the disabling effects of MS. However, since the NICE Guidelines were published, a subsequent review has cast doubt on the quality of the original research trials and called for further research in this area.[3]

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What is the best dose of linoleic acid?

These research trials gave people with MS 17g - 23g of either sunflower spread or sunflower oil, thus forming the basis of NICE's recommendation about amounts of linoleic acid.

However, it was noted by the researchers that it was unclear whether this was the optimum amount of linoleic acid. For people who have a poor appetite, or who are trying to lose weight, these levels may well not be desirable. Other downsides of linoleic acid can be that the oily taste may be unpleasant and can cause diarrhoea in some people.

It is not advisable to increase your linoleic acid intake without making other changes to your diet. If in any doubt, ask your GP to refer you to a dietitian.

Linoleic acid should be considered in the context of a balanced diet, which is low in total fat and includes 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

  • Saturated fat intake should be reduced; otherwise the total amount of fats will be unhealthily high. It will also compete with the essential fatty acids. This can be achieved by reducing fatty meat and processed meat products, full fat dairy products (butter, full cream milk, cheese, cream), bought baked products (cakes, biscuits), pastry, crisps, chips and products containing significant amounts of hydrogenated vegetable fats.

  • Fruit and vegetable intake should be increased to 5 portions a day. This is to provide antioxidant nutrients to combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the condition that occurs when substances produced within the body react and cause damage to cells. Antioxidants can convert these substances into harmless substances such as oxygen and water. Increasing the amount of essential fatty acids without increasing these protective nutrients could increase the amount of oxidative stress. A portion of fruit could be an apple, a small banana, two plums or a small glass of fruit juice. A portion of vegetables could be 2-3 tablespoons of cooked vegetables (fresh, frozen or tinned), or a small bowl of salad.

  • A balance between essential fatty acids is important, so try to include some omega 3 fatty acids, for example by eating a portion of oily fish weekly (e.g mackerel, sardines, salmon).

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Sources of linoleic acid

The research suggests that linoleic acid works well in whatever form it is taken. Sources of linoleic acid include full-fat sunflower margarine or sunflower, safflower or sesame seed oils. It can be used in salad dressings, neat from the bottle, or as a spread on toast, bread or crackers. To get the benefit of the linoleic acid, oil or spreads should not be heated, and should be stored in cool, dark conditions, such as a cupboard.

Alternatively or additionally, supplements can be taken, although it may be difficult to consume enough linoleic acid in this way.

If you have a good appetite it is likely that you will take 17 - 23 g of linoleic acid a day through your daily food. The following provide 3.5-4.5g of linoleic acid[3]. Choose 5 portions each day to achieve the target:

Margarine and oils:

  • 3 level teaspoons (12g) of full fat polyunsaturated margarine, for example, sunflower, corn, safflower or soya
  • 2 teaspoons (8g) of corn oil, cotton seed oil, soya oil, walnut oil or wheatgerm oil
  • 1½ teaspoons of safflower oil or sunflower oil

Nuts and seeds:

  • 10-15g of walnuts, brazil nuts, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin or poppy seeds
  • 20-30g of peanuts, peanut butter or almonds

Miscellaneous:

  • 2½ teaspoons (10g) of full fat mayonnaise
  • 30g of full fat soya flour
  • 35g of taramasalata or soya dessert topping

Supplements:

  • 5.8g (5800mg) blackcurrant seed oil*
  • 4.5g (4500mg) evening primrose oil*
  • 5.3g (5300mg) grape seed oil

* including gamma linolenic acid (GLA) content.

Gamma linolenic acid

GLA is another omega-6 essential fatty acid. There is some theoretical evidence that GLA may also be beneficial in MS. Studies in animals show that GLA suppresses immune system activity and decreases the severity of an MS-like disease. However, these benefits have not been replicated in human studies, with mixed results from clinical trials. The main source of GLA is evening primrose oil, which contains around 8 to 10 per cent GLA and approximately 70 per cent linoleic acid. Obtaining enough GLA or linoleic acid through evening primrose oil capsules alone is very difficult. Because of the mixed research results there are no evidence-based recommendations for dosages of GLA.[5]

NB Supplements are more expensive than dietary sources of linoleic acid.

If you are in any doubt ask your GP or consultant for a referral to a dietician.

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References

  1. Dworkin RH, Bates D, Millar JHD, Paty DW.
    Linoleic acid and multiple sclerosis: a reanalysis of three double-blind trials.
    Neurology 1984; 34:1441-5.
  2. Multiple sclerosis - understanding NICE guidance - information for people with multiple sclerosis, their families and carers, and the public.
    London: NICE; 2003.
  3. Farinotti M, Simi S, Di Pietrantonj C, McDowell N et al.
    Dietary interventions for multiple sclerosis.
    Cochrane Database Systematic Review 2007; (1): CD 004192.
  4. Fatty acids.
    Seventh supplement to 5th edition of McCance and Widdowson's "The composition of foods".
    Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry; 1998.
  5. Bowling AC.
    Complementary and alternative medicine and multiple sclerosis. Second edition.
    New York: Demos; 2007.

We are very grateful to Bernice Chiswell, Senior Dietician, Bedford Hospital NHS Trust and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire MS Therapy Centre, for her help in compiling this factsheet.