Wheat germ oil

Wheat germ oil in a clear glass vial

Wheat germ oil is extracted from the germ of the wheat kernel, which makes up only 2.5% by weight of the kernel ^[1] Wheat germ oil is particularly high in octacosanol - a 28-carbon long-chain saturated primary alcohol found in a number of different vegetable waxes.^[2] Octacosanol has been studied as an exercise- and physical performance-enhancing agent. Very long chain fatty alcohols obtained from plant waxes and beeswax have been reported to lower plasma cholesterol in humans.^[3] Wheat germ oil is also very high in vitamin E (255 mg/100g), and has the highest content of vitamin E of any food that has not undergone prior preparation or vitamin fortification.^[4] As a cooking oil, wheat germ oil is strongly flavored, expensive and easily perishable.^[1] Wheat germ oil contains the following fatty acids:^[5][6]

Component	g/100g
Linoleic acid (omega-6)	55
Palmitic acid	16
Oleic acid	14
Linolenic acid (omega-3)	7

Other uses of wheat germ oil have also been explored, including increasing blood flow and reaction time.^[7] Further uses include treatment of certain skin conditions such as scarring and inflammation.^[8]

See also

• Rice bran oil

References

1. "Kitchen Dictionary: Wheat germ".
2. "Wheat Germ Oil (Octacosanol)".
3. Hargrove; Greenspan, P; Hartle, DK; et al. (03/01/2004). "Nutritional Significance and Metabolism of Very Long Chain Fatty Alcohols and Acids from Dietary Waxes". Experimental Biology and Medicine 229 (3): 215–26. PMID 14988513. Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. "999 Foods Highest in Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) (based on levels per 200 Calories)".
5. "Nutritional Summary for Oil, wheat germ".
6. Ola. A. Megahad and Omayma S. El Kinawy (2002). "Studies on the extraction of wheat germ oil by commercial hexane". Grasas y Aceites 53 (4): 414–418. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
7. "Wheat Germ Oil". Nutros. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
8. "Is Wheat Germ Oil Good for Scar Diminishing?". OilyOily. Retrieved 22 August 2013.