(P41-04-26) Precision Nutrition via the FADS Indel Polymorphism: Dietary Linoleic Acid Intake and Inflammatory Condition Risk Predictions Across 26 Global Cohorts

Monday, July 27, 2026

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET

Location: Poster Board G-27

Presenting Author(s)

Mia Cardello, BSA

Research Assistant
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

YL

Yan Ning Li, BS, RD

Doctoral Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
J. Thomas Brenna, PhD

Professor
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States

Disclosure(s):

Mia Cardello, BSA: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: The fatty acid desaturase (FADS) insertion-deletion (Indel) polymorphism (rs66698963) influences the expression of fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) and controls synthesis of omega-6 arachidonic acid from linoleic acid. The presence of ≥ 1 Indel I (insertion) allele indicates higher circulating levels of arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) to dihomo-y-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6) compared to the D (deletion) allele, thus contributing to the onset of inflammation-related conditions. Stratification of human populations by FADS Indel genotype (DD, ID, II) is a precision nutrition approach for the prediction and treatment of various adverse outcomes.We tested the hypothesis that the FADS Indel I allele polymorphism predicts disease risk and potential therapeutic outcomes via omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) supplementation in early preterm birth (EPB), preterm birth (PB), prolonged gestation (PG), and colorectal polyp (CP) recurrence across 26 human populations.

Methods: Cross-sectional human pilot data of genotype-specific PUFA levels were used to model predicted adverse and therapeutic outcome frequencies across 26 global populations by applying genotype-phenotype associations to population genotype frequencies under varying dietary omega-3 supplementation.

Results: I allele frequency predicts CP, EPB, and PB risk across cohorts, with African and South Asian populations at highest risk for adverse outcomes due to high I allele frequency. Stratifying risk and response by genotype predicts outcomes.

Conclusions: The I allele is highly prevalent in persons of African and South Asian ancestry and may influence susceptibility to adverse outcomes. High-dose omega-3 supplementation confers a protective effect in I allele carriers. The prevalence of the I allele in these populations may represent an evolutionary adaptation to the relative food-based scarcity of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) in these regions. We further speculate that the use of high linoleic oils may drive an increase in ARA and its proinflammatory signaling in I allele carriers, predisposing individuals to disease.

Funding Sources: N/A