What Are the Effects of Corn Oil on the Liver?

Corn oil is extracted from corn seeds and first started to replace other oil for common use in the 1940s. Corn oil is high in unhealthy fats, such as polyunsaturated fats and unsaturated fat. The liver is designed to eliminate toxins and produce protines and hormones for the rest of the body. Because of the high fat content of corn oil, it may have a detrimental effect on the liver. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that corn oil is still considered a heart-healthy food as of 2007.

Liver Cancer

• One of the potential side effects of a diet high in corn oil is liver cancer. A study conducted by KM Wahidur Rahman et al, published in Nutrition and Cancer magazine in 2001, noted that rats and mice fed a high diet of corn oil and lard developed increased levels of carcinogenesis, which can potentially lead to liver cancer. After consuming a diet high in corn oil for six months, the mice were 30 percent more likely to develop cancer cells in the liver.

Non- Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

• Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis causes excessive amounts of fat to form around the liver. According to the Mayo Clinic, a diet high in polyunsaturated oils increases the chances for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Corn oil contains a high concentration of polyunsaturated oils, approximately 65 percent, which can contribute to this disease.

Cirrhosis

• Corn oil increases the amount of fat deposits on the liver. Over time, the presence of this fat will cause liver scarring. This excessive scarring, or cirrhosis, can eventually lead to liver failure. According to Medicinenet.com, cirrhosis develops because of excessive amounts of fat deposits on the liver, which is caused by a high concentration of fat over the entire body.

Liver Toxicity

• According to Annals of Surgery, published by the Yamanashi University in Japan, diets high in Omega-6 fats contribute to a higher risk for liver tumors and mortality in rats. A study published by Annals of Surgery in 2003 researched rats injected with corn oil to determine the toxicity present in the liver after dosing. After one week, the rats fed corn oil were more likely to develop liver toxicity that can lead to liver tumors. Only rats given medium-chain triglycerides were able to survive the high concentration of corn oil.