On Thu, 8 Apr 1999, Larelle wrote:

> What is wrong with Omega 6 oils?

The omega-6 oils tend to promote cellular processes that are
inflammatory and thrombotic.  It is thought that a "natural"
ratio of w-6 to w-3 oils is about 4:1, but because of the
extensive use of w-6 oils in food processing, the typical
American diet has a ratio of about 20:1.  Some people believe (I
am one of them) that this is a very likely explanation for the
increase in heart disease in the 20th century, prior to which
things like safflower and cottonseed oil were simply not
available.

An exception is canola (rapeseed) oil, which is high in w-3 fats.
I have read dire warnings about this oil too, but I have yet to
find any credible documentation concerning its dangers.

Todd Moody
[log in to unmask]

J Indian Med Assoc 1998 Oct;96(10):304-7

Choice of cooking oils--myths and realities.

Sircar S, Kansra U

Department of Medicine, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi.

In contrast to earlier epidemiologic studies showing a low
prevalence of atherosclerotic heart disease (AHD) and type-2
dependent diabetes mellitus (Type-2 DM) in the Indian
subcontinent, over the recent years, there has been an alarming
increase in the prevalence of these diseases in Indians--both
abroad and at home, attributable to increased dietary fat intake.
Replacing the traditional cooking fats condemned to be
atherogenic, with refined vegetable oils promoted as
"heart-friendly" because of their polyunsaturated fatty acid
(PUFA) content, unfortunately, has not been able to curtail this
trend. Current data on dietary fats indicate that it is not just
the presence of PUFA but the type of PUFA that is important--a
high PUFA n-6 content and high n-6/n-3 ratio in dietary fats
being atherogenic and diabetogenic. The newer "heart-friendly"
oils like sunflower or safflower oils possess this undesirable
PUFA content and there are numerous research data now available
to indicate that the sole use or excess intake of these newer
vegetable oils are actually detrimental to health and switching
to a combination of different types of fats including the
traditional cooking fats like ghee, coconut oil and mustard oil
would actually reduce the risk of dyslipidaemias, AHD and Type-2
DM.

UI: 99162785