Prunus armeniaca
1 association assessed — none with dependable human evidence behind them yet. Strongest first.
A light, oleic-acid-dominated oil pressed from the kernel inside the apricot stone, similar in profile to almond oil and used both in cooking and, more often, in cosmetics. The oil and the whole kernel are two very different products and should not be confused.
Also known as Apricot oil, Persic oil
What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.
Evidence is limited for apricot kernel oil in humans. It is a monounsaturated-dominant oil and would be expected to behave like other oleic-rich oils, but that is an inference from composition and no trial has tested it.
Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.
Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.
AI explanations are not switched on for this site, so there is nothing to ask here. Everything above is read straight from the database and does not need them.
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients | ||
| Calories | 884 kcal | 44% |
| Protein | 0 g | 0% |
| Total fat | 100 g | 128% |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0% |
| Fibre | 0 g | 0% |
| Total sugars | 0 g | — |
| Water | 0 g | — |
| Fats | ||
| Saturated fat | 6.3 g | 32% |
| Monounsaturated fat | 60 g | — |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 29.3 g | — |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| EPA (omega-3) | 0 g | — |
| DHA (omega-3) | 0 g | — |
| DPA (omega-3) | 0 g | — |
| Linoleic acid (omega-6) | 29.3 g | — |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin A | 0 µg | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin E | 4 mg | 27% |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0 mg | 0% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0 mg | 0% |
| Niacin (B3) | 0 mg | 0% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 0 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0 mg | 0% |
| Folate | 0 µg | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0 µg | 0% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
| Magnesium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Phosphorus | 0 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Zinc | 0 mg | 0% |
| Selenium | 0 µg | 0% |
| Other measured compounds | ||
| Beta-carotene | 0 µg | — |
| Alpha-carotene | 0 µg | — |
| Lycopene | 0 µg | — |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0 µg | — |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | — |
| Ash | 0 g | — |
Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.
Source record: Oil, apricot kernel (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 171032).
% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.
Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.
Nothing dependable is recorded about how preparation changes this food’s nutritional properties. Rather than guess, this section stays empty.
Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.
Avoid
Bitter apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which releases hydrogen cyanide during digestion, and national food agencies have issued acute poisoning warnings and intake limits for eating them. Amygdalin is water-soluble and stays with the press cake, so the pressed oil is a different matter — but the two are marketed under overlapping names, and nothing on this page should be read as reassurance about eating kernels or taking amygdalin or laetrile preparations.
Allergy
Apricot kernel is botanically a stone-fruit seed closely related to almond, and cross-reactivity has been described in people allergic to almond or to Rosaceae fruits. Cold-pressed oil retains some protein.
Worth knowing
Most retail apricot kernel oil is produced for skin and hair use rather than as a food, and is neither processed nor stored to food standards. Check that the bottle is explicitly edible.