# Differential Association of Dietary Linoleic Acid and Alpha-linolenic Acid with Adipose Tissue in a Sample of Iranian Adults; A Cohort-based Cross-sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that higher intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is linked to lower body fat in Iranian men, suggesting ALA may help improve body composition.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the differential associations of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) with body fat indices in a healthy Iranian population.

## Key findings

- Higher ALA intake in men was inversely associated with body fat mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat area, and waist-to-hip ratio.
- Dietary LA and ALA levels were measured in a large Iranian cohort using validated methods.
- The study highlights ALA as a potential preventive dietary factor for body fat accumulation.

## Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity are the most critical risk factors for chronic
diseases. The quality of dietary fatty acids as one of the factors affecting fat
accumulation has received little attention. This study investigates the
association between dietary linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
with body fat indices in a sample of healthy Iranian adults.Materials and
Methods: In this cohort-based cross-sectional study, 3,195 individuals aged 20
to 60 who participated in the Shiraz University of Medical Science Employees
Health Cohort study were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated
118-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and body composition was assessed
by the bioelectrical impedance analysis method. Multiple linear regression
adjusted for relevant confounders was used to determine the
associations.Results: Mean dietary intake of LA was 14.20 ± 7.01 mg/day for men
and 13.90 ± 6.71 mg/day for women. Additionally, the daily intake of ALA was
0.18 ± 0.18 mg/day in men and 0.17 ± 0.19 mg/day in women. Dietary intake of ALA
for men had an inversely significant association with body fat mass (BFM) (β:
-0.585, 95% CI: -1.137, -0.032, P=0.038), percentage of body fat (PBF) (β:
-0.537, 95% CI: -0.945, -0.129, P=0.010), Visceral Fat Area (VFA) (β: -2.998,
95% CI: -5.695, -0.302, P=0.029), and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) (β: -0.689, 95%
CI: -1.339, -0.040, P=0.038).Conclusion: Higher dietary ALA intake was
associated with lower BFM, BFP, VAF, and WHR in men. The present study confirms
that ALA intake should be considered a preventive treatment to improve body
composition. However, further research is recommended in this regard.