**2.1 Total cholesterol**

The consumption of linoleic acid decreased total cholesterol compared to a usual U.S. diet (high in saturated fat and cholesterol) [54], and diets high in SFAs [55] (including stearic acid [56] and palmitic acid [57]), MUFAs [58], or medium-chain fatty acids [59]. A high intake of alpha-linolenic acid, the essential omega-3 fatty acid, decreased cholesterol concentrations compared to the control diet with the same percentage of linoleic acid [60]. In contrast, no significant differences in total cholesterol were observed after linoleic acid consumption compared to diets containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (omega-3 fatty acids) [61, 62], alpha-linolenic acid [63], high and low amounts of linoleic acid [64], oleic acid (a MUFA) [65, 66], or stearic acid [66]. Interestingly, intakes of SFA- or linoleic acid-rich diets – both supplemented with EPA and DHA – produced no significant differences in cholesterol concentrations [67].
