Contributing Factor to Ulcerative Colitis May be Linoleic Acid

A contributing factor to ulcerative colitis may be linoleic acid according to a new study. In fact, it may be the cause of 30 percent of all ulcerative colitis cases.

Linoleic acid, a very common polyunsaturated fatty acid, can be found in red meat, some cooking oils and a variety of other sources.

The European study followed the diet habits of more than 200,000 people in five different countries.

The body converts linoleic acid to arachidonic acid which is a component of the cell membranes in the bowel. It can then turn into various chemicals that inflame tissue. People with ulcerative colitis have been found to have high levels of these chemicals in their bowel tissue.

The good news is the researchers also found that eating lots of omega 3 fatty acids can reduce the chance of developing ulcerative colitis by more than three quarters. Products rich in omega 3 include oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, flaxseed and some dairy products.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that affects hundreds of thousands in the United States. Symptoms vary from case to case but can include abdominal pain, diarrhea which is often times bloody and fever. 

If this contributing factor to ulcerative colitis proves to be linoleic acid, it would be a great step in helping people who suffer from this often times debilitating disease.