Abstract:The diversities of the fatty acid compositions contribute to the differences of the nutritional characteristics of the different edible oils. Long term unbalanced dietary edible oil or fatty acid consumption have been evidenced to be correlated with an increased risk of developing chronic metabolic diseases, and the gut mucosal barrier displayed prominent influences during this process. Therefore, in the present review paper, the types of the gut mucosal barrier, as well as the influences of the dietary oils intake on the gut barrier functions were introduced. Moreover, the research progress about the influences of dietary oil intake and the fatty acid species (i.e. saturated fatty acids, SFA; monounsaturated fatty acids, MUFA; polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA) on the intestinal barrier had been summarized. Considering the importance of the fatty acid intake ratio for maintaining the metabolic balance of the humans, the effects of ω6/ω3 PUFA intake ratio on gut barrier functions also had been elucidated. Finally, based on the forms of edible oil consumption by the Chinese residents and the current research status about the concepts of balanced fatty acids intake, several considerations were proposed for adjusting the edible oil intake mode based on optimizing the fatty acid intake ratio. All of the aims were to provide references for improving gut barrier functions and reducing the risks of chronic metabolic diseases. The present work could be of some significance for understanding the nutritional characteristics of different fatty acids, improving the processing and nutritional quality of the edible oils, optimizing fatty acid intake patterns, and assisting in achieving the strategic targets of 'Healthy China' from the perspective of improving intestinal barrier functions.