Why I Don’t Recommend Canola Oil 👉🏿 especially with kidney decline

by Robin Rose MD 1/9/26

✨It’s been a long time recommendation of mine to AVOID CANOLA OIL :: with kidney decline there’s a long and poignant list of issues that need to be included in the conversation.

Yes this is a long list but summarizes the concerns for canola oil nicely :::

👉🏿 Rationale for Avoiding Canola Oil

🌿1. High Heat Processing → Lipid Peroxidation & Aldehyde Load

Commercial canola oil undergoes high-heat refining, bleaching, and deodorizing (RBD).

This generates lipid peroxides, aldehydes (4-HNE, MDA), and cyclic fatty acid monomers.

✨These compounds:

• Induce tubular oxidative stress (ROS → mitochondrial fragmentation → impaired β-oxidation).

• Activate Nrf2 initially, then suppress it with chronic exposure.

• Increase NF-κB–driven inflammation (renal, vascular, neuro).

(4-HNE is specifically toxic to proximal tubules and podocytes.)

References:

• Liu et al. Food Chem. 2021;343:128548.

• Poli et al. Redox Biol. 2008;1:1–9.

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🌿2. Excessive Omega-6 Linoleic Acid (LA) → Inflammatory Signaling

Canola oil contains 18–22% LA. While lower than soybean oil, it still drives:

• Oxylipin formation (9-HODE, 13-HODE) → directly injure renal proximal tubules.

• Increased arachidonic acid–derived eicosanoids → vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction.

• Activation of PPAR-γ dysregulation in metabolic disease.

• Promotion of adipose inflammation, worsening insulin resistance (major CKD accelerator).

✨LA accumulation in cell membranes increases susceptibility to oxidative decomposition into advanced lipid oxidation end-products (ALEs)—strongly nephrotoxic.

References:

• Ramsden et al. BMJ. 2013;346:e8707.

• Stanley et al. Kidney Int. 2019;96:611–626.

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🌿3. Trans Fat Byproducts Despite “Zero Trans Fat” Labeling

Refining generates ~0.2–4.6% rTFA (refining-induced trans fatty acids).

✨Even low-dose, chronic rTFA intake:

• Increases CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α.

• Raises Lp(a) and apoB, worsening vascular risk in CKD.

• Impairs HDL function, reducing reverse cholesterol transport needed to protect the kidney’s microvasculature.

References:

• Destaillats et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2008;56:6719–6725.

• Mozaffarian et al. NEJM. 2006;354:1601–1613.

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🌿4. Residual Solvents & Chemical Contaminants

Most canola production uses hexane extraction, leaving trace residues - and subsequent bleaching clays introduce:

• PAHs

• pesticide residues

• glycidyl esters & 3-MCPD esters—linked to renal tubular toxicity, immune disruption, and oxidative injury.

These compounds worsen CKD-related oxidative stress and may accelerate kidney structural decline.

References:

• EFSA Panel on Contaminants. EFSA J. 2016;14(5):4426.

• Nagahara et al. Toxicol Sci. 2020;174:96–108.

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🌿5. Genetic Modification & Glyphosate Residues

~90% of canola in North America is GM glyphosate-tolerant.

✨Glyphosate + its metabolite AMPA have:

• Renal proximal tubule toxicity

• Increased mitochondrial ROS burst

• Interference with metal ion binding, indirectly impairing kidney detox pathways

• Possible contribution to CKDu in rural agricultural regions

✨CKD and autoimmune patients already have reduced detox capacity, making this more relevant.

References:

• Mesnage et al. Toxicol Rep. 2015;2:1113–1129.

• Valcke et al. Environ Res. 2017;157:123–131.

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🌿6. Altered Omega-3 Fraction After Refining

Canola oil contains native ALA, but refining destroys 60–90% of it - leaving an oil that:

• Has negligible anti-inflammatory benefit

• Is enriched in damaged PUFA byproducts

• Paradoxically becomes pro-inflammatory despite ALA on the label

✨Refining selectively removes tocopherols, leaving the PUFA fraction unprotected.

Reference:

• Martinez-Yusta et al. Food Chem. 2014;158:427–434.

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🌿7. Impaired Endothelial Function: Critical for CKD

Canola oil intake has been linked with:

• Reduced endothelial nitric oxide

• Increased arterial stiffness

• Dysregulated eNOS coupling

• Accelerated vascular aging (already a major CKD pathology)

✨This worsens the kidney’s microvascular network and contributes to the “vascular-renal-autonomic triangle” that is recognized in Renology thinking.

References:

• Vafeiadou et al. Br J Nutr. 2015;114:1623–1633.

• Laufs et al. Circulation. 2005;112:3669–3677.

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🌿8. Microbiome Effects

Canola oil shifts gut microbiota toward:

• Increased Enterobacteriaceae

• Reduced short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria

• Increased LPS leakage → activates TLR4 → renal inflammation

✨CKD already has a baseline uremic dysbiosis; canola oil worsens the pattern.

Reference:

• Rueda-Clausen et al. Lipids Health Dis. 2018;17:11.

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👉🏿Bottom Line - for Clinical and Renology Success

✨Avoid canola oil because it:

1. Creates toxic lipid oxidation products under refining & cooking.

2. Adds a high LA burden → inflammatory oxylipins & renal oxidative injury.

3. Introduces refining-induced trans fats.

4. Carries contaminants harmful to tubules.

5. Often contains glyphosate residues affecting kidney detox pathways.

6. Loses protective omega-3 content during processing.

7. Impairs endothelium—a key axis in CKD progression.

8. Worsens uremic dysbiosis.

CONCLUSION

We have so many choices in this modern world : for me there’s a poignant truth that CHOOSING allows us to create our reality in amazing ways.

So with CKD this choosing becomes a lifeline for thriving despite the challenges of kidney compromise. By making the right choices we can re route damaged biochemical overheated and hopefully arrive at safer shores.

I hope this array of reasons to avoid canola oil is as useful to you as it has been for me! I prefer organic EVOO- extra virgin olive oil - and organic avocado oil for cooking- organic ghee and organic coconut oil play a role as well - sometimes I use sesame oil to enliven certain dishes.

I used canola decades ago- until I learned why not to. With the kidney issue it becomes even more compelling to navigate wisely.

Willingness to explore, and learn, and make changes is the first gift of healing -::> and this offers gifts for kidney success. May you find your way to health and joy in this adventure.