The gut and brain communicate through a network known as the gut-brain axis. This is a system of physical and biochemical connections that allows them to influence each other’s function and overall health. Emerging research indicates that regularly consuming vegetable oils may negatively impact both gut and brain health. The word “vegetable” on a label often signals something healthy, but that’s not always the case with oils and fats.
Frequent consumption of certain vegetable oils, especially those high in omega-6 fatty acids like soybean oil, may harm both gut and brain health. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier and the resulting brain inflammation have been associated with a range of neurological and neurodegenerative conditions, including depression, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Despite the name, most vegetable oils are actually extracted from seeds. When a label lists “vegetable oil” as an ingredient, it’s typically made from pure soybean oil or, in some cases, mixed with other seed oils like corn or canola. These oils have been linked to increased inflammation, alterations in brain chemistry, and a higher risk of neurological and digestive disorders
A recent study found that mice fed soybean oil showed significantly more neuroinflammation and gut damage than those fed lard. Over the 20-week period, researchers observed disruptions in both the blood-brain barrier and the intestinal lining in the soybean oil group.
These mice showed a decline in beneficial gut bacteria and a rise in harmful microbes, which contributed to inflammation and damage in the brain. The loss of beneficial bacteria combined with the overgrowth of harmful strains made the gut more vulnerable to inflammation and its ripple effects throughout the body. Additionally, linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid abundant in soybean oil, has been shown to weaken the intestinal barrier, increasing permeability and driving chronic inflammation linked to numerous human diseases.
Your body and brain rely on healthy fats, so eliminating fats and oils entirely isn’t the answer. Research shows that extra-virgin olive oil and avocado oil can support both gut and brain health. For a healthier choice, it’s best to opt for foods made with butter, coconut oil, or whole-food fat sources like nuts, rather than seed oils.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Soybean oil induces neuroinflammatory response through brain-gut axis under high-fat diet
