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America's most widely consumed cooking oil causes genetic changes in the brain America's most widely consumed cooking oil causes genetic changes in the brain January 23, 2020 Jules Bernstein, UC Riverside Soybean oil flowing into a spoon Soybean oil flowing into a spoon Credit: iStock/dulezidar New UC Riverside research shows soybean oil not only leads to obesity and diabetes, but could also affect neurological conditions like autism, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, and depression. Used for fast food frying, added to packaged foods, and fed to livestock, soybean oil is by far the most widely produced and consumed edible oil in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In all likelihood, it is not healthy for humans. Chart depicts consumption of edible oils in the U.S. Chart depicts consumption of edible oils in the U.S. for 2017/18. Credit: USDA It certainly is not good for mice. The new study, published this month in the journal Endocrinology, compared mice fed three different diets high in fat: soybean oil, soybean oil modified to be low in linoleic acid, and coconut oil. The same UC Riverside research team found in 2015 that soybean oil induces obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty liver in mice. Then in a 2017 study, the same group learned that if soybean oil is engineered to be low in linoleic acid, it induces less obesity and insulin resistance. However, in the study released this month, researchers did not find any difference between the modified and unmodified soybean oil's effects on the brain. Specifically, the scientists found pronounced effects of the oil on the hypothalamus, where a number of critical processes take place. "The hypothalamus regulates body weight via your metabolism, maintains body temperature, is critical for reproduction and physical growth as well as your response to stress," said Margarita Curras-Collazo, a UC Riverside associate professor of neuroscience and lead author on the study. oxytocin in the hypothalamus Comparison of oxytocin hormone in the hypothalamus of mice fed three different diets. The image on the far right shows very little oxytocin in mice fed a soybean oil diet. Credit: UC Riverside The team determined a number of genes in mice fed soybean oil were not functioning correctly. One such gene produces the "love" hormone, oxytocin. In soybean oil-fed mice, levels of oxytocin in the hypothalamus went down. The research team discovered roughly 100 other genes also affected by the soybean oil diet. They believe this discovery could have ramifications not just for energy metabolism, but also for proper brain function and diseases such as autism or Parkinson's disease. However, it is important to note there is no proof the oil causes these diseases. Additionally, the team notes the findings only apply to soybean oil -- not to other soy products or to other vegetable oils. Soybean oil Throw out your soybean oil only. Credit: iStock/Chaded2557 "Do not throw out your tofu, soymilk, edamame, or soy sauce," said Frances Sladek, a UC Riverside toxicologist and professor of cell biology. "Many soy products only contain small amounts of the oil, and large amounts of healthful compounds such as essential fatty acids and proteins." A caveat for readers concerned about their most recent meal is that this study was conducted on mice, and mouse studies do not always translate to the same results in humans. Also, this study utilized male mice. Because oxytocin is so important for maternal health and promotes mother-child bonding, similar studies need to be performed using female mice. One additional note on this study -- the research team has not yet isolated which chemicals in the oil are responsible for the changes they found in the hypothalamus. But they have ruled out two candidates. It is not linoleic acid, since the modified oil also produced genetic disruptions; nor is it stigmasterol, a cholesterol-like chemical found naturally in soybean oil. Identifying the compounds responsible for the negative effects is an important area for the team's future research. "This could help design healthier dietary oils in the future," said Poonamjot Deol, an assistant project scientist in Sladek's laboratory and first author on the study. "The dogma is that saturated fat is bad and unsaturated fat is good. Soybean oil is a polyunsaturated fat, but the idea that it's good for you is just not proven," Sladek said. Indeed, coconut oil, which contains saturated fats, produced very few changes in the hypothalamic genes. "If there's one message I want people to take away, it's this: reduce consumption of soybean oil," Deol said about the most recent study. Endocrinology: Dysregulation of hypothalamic gene expression and the oxytociner... Keep reading Blood testing a hand Thursday, May 20, 2021 A cellular culprit for Type 1 diabetes Researchers have identified a predictive causal role for specific cell types in the condition, which affects more than 1.6 million Americans. Research vessel Sally Ride in the water Friday, May 7, 2021 Seafloor survey finds thousands of barrels at DDT dumpsite... The survey identified more than 27,000 targets with high confidence to be classified as a barrel, and an excess of 100,000 total debris objects on the seafloor. The University of California opened its doors in 1869 with just 10 faculty members and 40 students. Today, the UC system has more than 280,000 students and 227,000 faculty and staff, with 2.0 million alumni living and working around the world. 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