Limited evidenceHeart & metabolic

Omega-7 (Palmitoleic Acid)

A monounsaturated fat from sea buckthorn or anchovy, sold for inflammation and lipids. The two placebo-controlled trials that measured inflammatory markers both came back negative.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

C-reactive protein and inflammation Limited evidence
A randomised, double-blind trial in 123 adults with elevated hs-CRP gave 500 or 1000 mg/day of purified palmitoleic acid for 12 weeks and found no change in hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, glucose, insulin, HbA1c or LDL, despite confirmed increases in blood palmitoleate. A separate crossover trial of 688 mg/day likewise found no reduction in inflammatory biomarkers.
Dry eye Limited evidence
A randomised trial of oral sea buckthorn oil in people with dry eye reported less increase in tear film osmolarity and modest symptom relief over the winter. Sea buckthorn oil contains many other components besides omega-7, so the result does not isolate palmitoleic acid.
Blood lipids Limited evidence
The lipid claims trace largely to a trial that was subsequently withdrawn from the literature, leaving no reliable controlled evidence that omega-7 improves cholesterol or triglycerides.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrials used 500–1000 mg/day of purified palmitoleic acid or 688 mg/day of a mixed omega-7 preparation, for 3–12 weeks, at which doses nothing changed. Sea buckthorn oil dry-eye studies used 2 g/day of the whole oil.

SafetyNo safety signals appeared in the trials. Marine-sourced omega-7 is unsuitable for people with fish allergy. Sea buckthorn oil may have a mild antiplatelet effect, so take care with anticoagulants and before surgery. There is no data in pregnancy. Note that palmitoleic acid is also produced endogenously and higher circulating levels have been linked in cohort studies to worse metabolic outcomes, which is an unresolved tension in this field.

Scientific references

Effects of a palmitoleic acid concentrated oil on C-reactive protein levels in adults: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
Bridges MD, Vennam SS, Davis T — Am J Clin Nutr, 2025
Omega-7 Mixed Fatty Acid Supplementation Fails to Reduce Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial
Sasagawa M, Boclair MJ, Amieux PS — Nutrients, 2021
Oral sea buckthorn oil attenuates tear film osmolarity and symptoms in individuals with dry eye
Larmo PS, Järvinen RL, Setälä NL — J Nutr, 2010

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