Comparative Effects of Traditional Versus Genetically Modified Soybean Oils on Colon Tumorigenesis in Mice

Soybean oil, which has high abundance of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2ω-6), is the most commonly consumed edible oil. Recent studies support that a high dietary intake of LA is linked with increased risks of developing colonic inflammation and colon cancer. Here we studied the effects of the genetically modified Plenish^® soybean oil, which has low abundance of LA as well as α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3ω-3), on development of azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colon tumorigenesis in mice. Compared with a diet rich in traditional soybean oil, administration of a diet enriched with the Plenish oil has little impact on AOM/DSS-induced colon tumorigenesis, colonic infiltration of immune cells, expressions of inflammatory genes, and tumor markers. These results suggest that the traditional and the Plenish soybean oils have similar effects on development of AOM/DSS-induced colon cancer in mice.