Plasma linoleic acid was inversely associated with the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) in adults with MAFLD (p = 0.014).
Are plasma linoleic acid levels associated with hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and cardiolipin composition in adults with MAFLD?
Higher plasma linoleic acid levels correlate with improved metabolic markers, including lower hepatic steatosis index and reduced insulin resistance, in adults with MAFLD.
Linoleic acid (LA: 18:2n-6) is a required nutrient that supports mitochondrial function as a component of the inner mitochondrial membrane, cardiolipin (CL). Tetralinoleoyl CL (LA4CL) supports optimal fatty acid oxidation, which is impaired in the liver in adults with MAFLD. Data were analyzed from 74 adults with MAFLD recruited from the Columbus region, Ohio, United States. Fatty acid content and CL species were measured in blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Liver fat was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), and liver stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Although plasma LA was not significantly associated with liver fat or stiffness, there was a borderline inverse association with liver fat in females (p = 0.091). Plasma LA was negatively associated with hepatic steatosis index (HSI) (p = 0.014) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.05). Plasma LA was positively correlated with LA4CL in PBMC expressed as a % of total cardiolipin (r = 0.501, p p p = 0.074) and % of total CL (p = 0.063). LA4CL (% of 72-C CL) was positively associated with HOMA-IR in men (p = 0.006) but not women. Plasma LA was inversely associated with the presence of T2DM (OR= 0.831, 95% CI: 0.711, 0.955, p = 0.013). Mediation analysis indicated that HOMA-IR accounted for ~25.2% of this relationship.
Kalhori et al. (2026) studied this question. Plasma linoleic acid was inversely associated with the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) in adults with MAFLD (p = 0.014).