How Soybean Oil May Benefit Your Health

Soybean oil, often labeled as 'vegetable oil' in stores, is the most widely consumed edible oil in North America, known for its versatility and favorable fat profile.
Read the Science Behind Seed Oils

Soybean oil provides heart-healthy fats, essential nutrients and benefits supported by a growing body of research. Explore the evidence behind its role in cardiovascular health, inflammation, cholesterol management and more.

An Alternative to Saturated Fats

Leading health authorities, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the World Health Organization, and the European Food Safety Authority, recommend limiting saturated fat to 10% of daily energy intake and prioritizing oils with essential fatty acids, which are found in seed oils.

Helps Lower Cholesterol & Blood Pressure

Around 25 million U.S. adults have high cholesterol (above 240 mg/dL). Soybean oil contains approximately 40 mg of phytosterols per tablespoon, and consuming 2 grams of phytosterols daily has been associated with reduced LDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association also reports that omega-6 fatty acids may help lower LDL cholesterol when used in place of saturated fats. Consumption of foods containing omega-3 ALA and omega-6 LA, both found in soybean oil, has also been associated with reduced blood pressure.

Dietary Source of Vitamin E

Soybean oil is the principal source of vitamin E in the average American's diet: one tablespoon provides 6% of the daily recommended intake. A scientific review published in Nutrition Today found that, even after processing, seed oils remain a source of this antioxidant, which supports immune function, vision, brain health and skin protection and has been linked to the prevention of coronary heart disease, certain cancers and eye disorders. Vitamin E is also associated with cognitive health, with some studies linking consumption to delayed progression of symptoms in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. However, more research is needed to better understand this association.

Supports Everyday Wellness

A growing body of research demonstrates that nutrients in soybean oil do not contribute to inflammation and may promote skin health. Like other cooking oils, soybean oil is naturally gluten-free and is compatible with specialized diets, including the low FODMAP diet.

Soybean Oil, Explained

Around 18.2 million Americans are living with coronary heart disease, making it the most common form of heart disease in the U.S. Those seeking to reverse the trend can start by looking in the oil aisle of their local supermarket.

According to a perspective review published in the British Nutrition Journal, consumption of seed oils high in unsaturated fatty acids (including the omega-6 PUFA linoleic acid that is most prevalent in soybean oil), are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, as well as type 2 diabetes and overall mortality.

Read the Peer Reviewed Paper

Supportive but not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1½ tablespoons (20.5 grams) daily of soybean oil, which contains unsaturated fat, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Learn More

Heart-Healthy Fatty Acids

Consumption of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 linolenic acid has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. One tablespoon of soybean oil contains both omega-3s (1 gram) and omega-6s (7 grams).

Omega-6 & Omega-3

The British Nutrition Journal review actually shows the dietary omega-6 (like linoleic acid) to omega-3 (like alpha-linolenic acid) fatty acid ratio is not a useful measure of diet quality. Since both types of fatty acids are beneficial, the goal should be to consume enough of each type.

American Heart Association

In addition, the American Heart Association reports that an omega-6 intake of 5%-10% of total calories, in the context of other lifestyle and dietary behaviors that support heart health, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Linoleic Acid in Soybean Oil

Linoleic acid, the primary polyunsaturated fatty acid in soybean oil (and most seed oils), is linked to a variety of health benefits. Evidence indicates that in addition to lowering risk of cardiovascular disease, linoleic acid may also lower the risk of developing several chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and dementia.

A recent, thorough scientific review, published in Nutrition Today, and supported by the United Soybean Board, looked closely at linoleic acid's effects.

The review found:


  • No Link to Oxidative Stress: Studies show that eating linoleic acid doesn't increase markers of oxidative stress in your body.
  • No Link to Inflammation: Some people worry that seed oils might cause inflammation. However, this review found no evidence to support that concern.
"Linoleic acid is incorrectly claimed to cause inflammation because of its potential conversion to arachidonic acid, metabolites of which are thought to be pro-inflammatory. However, it is now well established that linoleic acid intake has a negligible impact on blood or tissue levels of arachidonic acid."
Kristina Petersen Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University

How Soybean Oil Is Made

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Watch “How Soybean Oil Is Made” 1:56
Over the past 75 years, dietary fat recommendations have shifted from focusing on total fat intake to considering the type of fat consumed. Learn more about soybean oil and how it can benefit your health.

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Soy Connection is a collaboration of health, nutrition and food industry experts with U.S. soybean farmers to educate on the benefits of sustainably grown U.S. soybeans, including heart-healthy soybean oil and soy protein. Soy Connection is brought to you by U.S. Soy and the United Soybean Board (USB), a national checkoff funded by U.S. soybean farmers. © 2026 United Soybean Board.

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