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# Prenatal intake of omega-6 fatty acids ups endothelial dysfunction risk in offspring
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/omega-9-fatty_acid_endothelial_dysfunction_0204120548/
- Published: 2012-02-04T18:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:46:16.000Z
- Description: In LDL-receptor-deficient mice, offspring of mothers fed an omega-6-rich diet had higher cholesterol and triglycerides, thicker arterial walls and severely altered endothelial cells. Offspring of omega-9-fed mothers had lower triglycerides and well-preserved aortic endothelium.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Diet, Nutrition, Omega-6, Omega-9, #vivvo-import

By David Liu,PH.D.

Saturday Feb 4, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in International Journal of Clinical Experimental Medicine suggests that eating olive oil and canola oil, which are rich in omega-9 fatty acids prenatally may reduce risk for atherogenesis in children.

The study on the other hand suggests that eating vegetable oil rich in omega-6 fatty acids such as soybean oil and corn oil may increase the risk.

Dilênia de Oliveira Cipriano Torres of Universidade de Pernambuco in Brazil and colleagues conducted the study in low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice to see how a diet rich either in omega-6 or omega 9 for 45 days prior to mating and until the birth of the offspring affects the offspring aorta, in comparison to a standard diet.

The researchers found baby mice born to hypercholesterolemic female mice fed omega-6 fatty acid-based diet had higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and CC-chemokine liggand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and low levels of high density lipoprotein.

They also found that "the ascending aorta of these animals exhibited an increase in arterial wall thickness as well as increased expression of CCL2/MCP-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1\. The ultrastructural analysis revealed severe alterations in endothelial cells."

On the other hand, the offspring from mothers fed omega-9 fatty acids, had reduced levels of triglycerides and increased levels of low-density lipoprotein. The ultrastructural analysis showed a well-preserved aortic endothelium in these animals. 

The findings suggest, according to the authors, hypercholesterolemic mothers feed a diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids predispose their offspring to endothelial dysfunction. 

Omega-6 fatty acids are found mainly in four types of oils including palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil. Other minor sources for this type fatty acids include poultry eggs, avocado, nuts, cereals, durum wheat, while grain breads, most vegetable oils, evening primrose oil, borage oil, blackcurrant seed oil, flax/linseed oil, rapeseed or canola oil, hemp oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower seed oil, corn oil, safflower oil, pumpkin seeds, acai berry, and cashews.

Major omega-6 fatty acids include Linoleic acid (LA), Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), Eicosadienoic acid, Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, Arachidonic acid (AA), Docosadienoic acid, Adrenic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid, Tetracosatetraenoic acid, Tetracosapentaenoic acid, and Calendic acid.

Omega-9 fatty acids are found mainly in olive oil, rapseed oil/canola oil, wallflower seed, and mustard seed. The common omega-9 fatty acids include oleic acid, elaidic acid, eicosenoic acid, mead acid, erucic acid, and nervonic acid.

Another type of fatty acids are called omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils, algal oil, squid oil and some plant oils such as echium oil and flaxseed oil. These fatty acids provide a myriad health benefits including pretection against atherogenesis

Keywords: Maternal nutrition, maternal hypercholesterolemia, omega-6 fatty acids, omega-9 fatty acids, atherogenesis, blood lipids