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Limited evidenceHeart & metabolic

Camelina Oil

A plant oil high in alpha-linolenic acid, positioned as an alternative to flaxseed oil. A small Finnish trial programme found it improves parts of the lipid profile, but like all ALA sources it converts poorly to EPA and DHA and is not a fish oil substitute.

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What the science says

  • Serum lipid profile Limited evidence

    A randomized controlled trial found camelina sativa oil, but not fatty or lean fish, improved the serum lipid profile in subjects with impaired glucose metabolism, lowering LDL and total cholesterol. It was a single trial in a specific population, from one research group.

  • Lipoprotein particle characteristics Limited evidence

    Related randomized trials from the same programme reported that camelina oil lowered IDL particle concentration and altered atherogenic properties of LDL and HDL particles. These are surrogate lipoprotein measures rather than clinical events.

  • Cholesterol lowering in hypercholesterolaemia Limited evidence

    An earlier randomized trial of ALA-rich camelina sativa oil in hypercholesterolaemic subjects found changes in serum fatty acid composition with modest lipid effects. The result has not been widely replicated in the two decades since.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrials used around 30 g (roughly 2 tablespoons) of camelina oil daily, supplying about 10 g of ALA. Capsule products deliver far less.
SafetyA food oil, well tolerated. It should not be used for high-heat cooking. As with any ALA source, conversion to EPA and DHA in humans is only a few percent, so it does not replace fish or algal oil for people who need those. High intakes may have a mild antiplatelet effect, relevant before surgery or with anticoagulants.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter; use it as part of a meal.
With food?As food — drizzle it on salads or stir it into cooked dishes off the heat.
Worth knowingNever use it for high-heat cooking and keep the bottle refrigerated, because ALA-rich oils oxidise quickly and rancid oil tastes bitter well before you can smell it.

Interactions

With medications

  • warfarin and other anticoagulants

    High intakes of ALA-rich oils have a mild antiplatelet effect. tell your doctor, and mention it before surgery

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does camelina oil lower cholesterol?

Camelina oil has limited evidence: a randomized trial in people with impaired glucose metabolism found about 30 g daily lowered LDL and total cholesterol, but it comes from one Finnish research group and has not been widely replicated. Related trials measured lipoprotein markers rather than heart outcomes.

Is camelina oil a substitute for fish oil?

No, camelina oil supplies alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA in humans is only a few percent. Camelina oil does not replace fish or algal oil for people who need EPA and DHA.

How much camelina oil should I take per day?

Camelina oil trials used around 30 g daily, roughly 2 tablespoons, supplying about 10 g of ALA; capsule products deliver far less. Use it as part of a meal, drizzled on salads or stirred into dishes off the heat.

Can you cook with camelina oil?

Camelina oil should not be used for high-heat cooking, and the bottle is best kept refrigerated because ALA-rich oils oxidise quickly. High intakes of camelina oil may have a mild antiplatelet effect, so mention it to your doctor if you take warfarin or before surgery.

Scientific references

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