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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.

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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    The lipid claims trace largely to a trial that was subsequently withdrawn from the literature, leaving no reliable controlled evidence that omega-7 improves cholesterol or triglycerides.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.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.
With food?Take it with a meal containing fat.
Worth knowingPurified palmitoleic acid and whole sea buckthorn oil are not interchangeable, so check which one the dose on the label refers to.

Interactions

With medications

  • warfarin and antiplatelet drugs

    Sea buckthorn oil has a mild antiplatelet effect. tell your doctor before combining and stop 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 omega-7 reduce inflammation?

No, in a double-blind trial of 123 adults with high hs-CRP, 500 or 1000 mg/day of purified omega-7 (palmitoleic acid) for 12 weeks did not change hs-CRP, IL-6 or TNF-alpha. A second trial of 688 mg/day was also negative, so the evidence is limited and points against a benefit.

Does omega-7 lower cholesterol?

There is no reliable controlled evidence that omega-7 improves cholesterol or triglycerides; the lipid claims trace largely to a trial that was withdrawn from the literature. In the 123-person trial, omega-7 did not change LDL.

Does sea buckthorn omega-7 help dry eye?

A randomised trial of 2 g/day of oral sea buckthorn oil reported modest dry-eye symptom relief over winter, but the oil contains many components besides omega-7. The evidence that palmitoleic acid itself helps dry eye is limited.

Is omega-7 safe?

No safety signals appeared in omega-7 trials, but marine-sourced omega-7 is unsuitable with fish allergy, and sea buckthorn oil may have a mild antiplatelet effect. Higher circulating palmitoleic acid has also been linked in cohort studies to worse metabolic outcomes, an unresolved question.

Scientific references

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