immunomodulatory. For medical purposes, the oil is used orally against colic
attacks, stomach and intestinal ulcers, digestive problems, and gastritis.
As an external remedy, camelina oil is useful in curing skin diseases (acne), skin
scratches, has healing effect on bruises, sprains, and inflammations (Rode 2002).
The antimicrobial efficacy of camelina seeds also makes it suitable as natural preservatives (Kumar et al. 2017). Camelina oil is also useful for slenderness recovery,
skin elasticity, and regeneration of skin (Vollman et al. 2007). Because of their fatty
acid profile, camelina oil is generally included in many of the cosmetic products such
as lipsticks, lotions, bar soaps, balms, and skin creams. Cold-pressed (when seed
material is pressed mechanically in a controlled environment) camelina oil has a high
content of alpha-linolenic acid or ALA (25–40%). The health-promoting attributes
of camelina oil arise due to high contents of ALA, tocopherols, and antioxidants.
The omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. They are important for the retina
and nerve functions. ALA cannot be synthesized by the human body and their
deficiency may cause suboptimal growth and neurological abnormalities. Additionally, ALA can improve the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio in food (Waraich et al.
2013). The health effects of ALA have been comprehensively described by Goyal
et al. (2014). Consumption of camelina oil for 12 weeks increased ALA in erythrocyte membranes (EM), plasma phospholipids (PL), cholesteryl esters (CE), and
triglycerides (TG) in human subjects with impaired glucose mechanism (Manninen
et al. 2019a).
The effect of ALA of camelina oil on fatty acid profile and serum lipids has been
studied (Karvonen et al. 2002). Diet rich in camelina oil has shown to improve the
lipid profile by decreasing LDL and total cholesterol (Karvonen et al. 2002). In a
study that compared the metabolic effect of camelina oil, fatty fish and lean fish on
subjects with impaired glucose metabolism, it was found that camelina oil was most
effective in improving the serum lipid profile. However, there was no significant
difference in glucose metabolism and anti-inflammatory response (Schwab et al.
2018). Researchers conducted studies to determine the effect of camelina oil and fish
oil on atherogenic and anti-atherogenic functions of LDL and HDL, respectively.
Camelina oil decreased the binding of lipoproteins to aortic proteoglycans by
decreasing serum LDL cholesterol concentration (Manninen et al. 2019b). The
anti-inflammatory effects of ALA-enriched diets have also been studied. Currently,
diseases like obesity and atherosclerosis are regarded as low-grade chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, ALA-rich diet may be useful in decreasing inflammatory
markers associated with obesity (Barceló-Coblijn and Murphy 2009). In a recent
study, researchers concluded that Camelina sativa oil may be beneficial in reducing
inflammation. A 12 week diet rich in Camelina sativa oil resulted in a decrease of
peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) interferon-gamma (IFNG) mRNA
expression in 17 human subjects with impaired glucose mechanism (de Mello
et al. 2019). IFN-γ is an inflammatory marker (Shu et al. 2016).
Docosahexaenoic acids or DHA are vital for the development of the brain. An
increase in the levels of DHA in the brain was observed in rats fed on ALA-rich diet.
This suggested the potential of ALA to limit or reverse neurogenerative disease in
the animal models studied (Barceló-Coblijn and Murphy 2009). Owing to the health
18 Camelina (Camelina sativa) Seed
463
attacks, stomach and intestinal ulcers, digestive problems, and gastritis.
As an external remedy, camelina oil is useful in curing skin diseases (acne), skin
scratches, has healing effect on bruises, sprains, and inflammations (Rode 2002).
The antimicrobial efficacy of camelina seeds also makes it suitable as natural preservatives (Kumar et al. 2017). Camelina oil is also useful for slenderness recovery,
skin elasticity, and regeneration of skin (Vollman et al. 2007). Because of their fatty
acid profile, camelina oil is generally included in many of the cosmetic products such
as lipsticks, lotions, bar soaps, balms, and skin creams. Cold-pressed (when seed
material is pressed mechanically in a controlled environment) camelina oil has a high
content of alpha-linolenic acid or ALA (25–40%). The health-promoting attributes
of camelina oil arise due to high contents of ALA, tocopherols, and antioxidants.
The omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. They are important for the retina
and nerve functions. ALA cannot be synthesized by the human body and their
deficiency may cause suboptimal growth and neurological abnormalities. Additionally, ALA can improve the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio in food (Waraich et al.
2013). The health effects of ALA have been comprehensively described by Goyal
et al. (2014). Consumption of camelina oil for 12 weeks increased ALA in erythrocyte membranes (EM), plasma phospholipids (PL), cholesteryl esters (CE), and
triglycerides (TG) in human subjects with impaired glucose mechanism (Manninen
et al. 2019a).
The effect of ALA of camelina oil on fatty acid profile and serum lipids has been
studied (Karvonen et al. 2002). Diet rich in camelina oil has shown to improve the
lipid profile by decreasing LDL and total cholesterol (Karvonen et al. 2002). In a
study that compared the metabolic effect of camelina oil, fatty fish and lean fish on
subjects with impaired glucose metabolism, it was found that camelina oil was most
effective in improving the serum lipid profile. However, there was no significant
difference in glucose metabolism and anti-inflammatory response (Schwab et al.
2018). Researchers conducted studies to determine the effect of camelina oil and fish
oil on atherogenic and anti-atherogenic functions of LDL and HDL, respectively.
Camelina oil decreased the binding of lipoproteins to aortic proteoglycans by
decreasing serum LDL cholesterol concentration (Manninen et al. 2019b). The
anti-inflammatory effects of ALA-enriched diets have also been studied. Currently,
diseases like obesity and atherosclerosis are regarded as low-grade chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, ALA-rich diet may be useful in decreasing inflammatory
markers associated with obesity (Barceló-Coblijn and Murphy 2009). In a recent
study, researchers concluded that Camelina sativa oil may be beneficial in reducing
inflammation. A 12 week diet rich in Camelina sativa oil resulted in a decrease of
peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) interferon-gamma (IFNG) mRNA
expression in 17 human subjects with impaired glucose mechanism (de Mello
et al. 2019). IFN-γ is an inflammatory marker (Shu et al. 2016).
Docosahexaenoic acids or DHA are vital for the development of the brain. An
increase in the levels of DHA in the brain was observed in rats fed on ALA-rich diet.
This suggested the potential of ALA to limit or reverse neurogenerative disease in
the animal models studied (Barceló-Coblijn and Murphy 2009). Owing to the health
18 Camelina (Camelina sativa) Seed
463