Researchers from the University of California, Riverside have tested a common genetically-modified (GM) soybean oil used in restaurants and found that it induces less obesity and insulin resistance than conventional soybean oil, but their effects on diabetes and fatty liver are similar.
The study, published yesterday in Nature Scientific Reports, tested Plenish, a GM soybean oil engineered by DuPont to have low linoleic acid, resulting in a similar composition to olive oil. Linoleic acid has been linked to adverse health effects of soybean oils.
The study also compared both conventional soybean oil and Plenish to coconut oil. The experiments tested the effects of these oils in mouse models.
"We found all three oils raised the cholesterol levels in the liver and blood, dispelling the popular myth that soybean oil reduces cholesterol levels," said Frances Sladek, a professor of cell biology, who led the research project.
They also found Plenish and olive oil to have similarly high levels of oleic acid, a fatty acid believed to reduce blood pressure and help weight loss. Both olive oil and Plenish were found to induce obesity more than coconut oils, but less than conventional soybean oil.
The researchers concluded that while the lack of linoleic oil in Plenish likely makes it a better option than conventional soybean oils due to the lack of linoleic acid, it should still not be eaten in excess because of its obesity-elevating effects.
"The take-home message is that it is best not to depend on just one oil source. Different dietary oils have far reaching and complex effects on metabolism that require additional investigation," explained Sladek.