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Flaxseed oil

Linum usitatissimum

Also known as Linseed oil, Flax oil

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Cold-pressed oil from flaxseed and the most concentrated common dietary source of the plant omega-3 ALA. Pressing leaves the lignans and fibre behind in the meal, so the oil is not nutritionally equivalent to ground flaxseed.

Heart HealthInflammation

Potential health benefits

Best supported: Limited

Ordered by how well the human research supports them — strongest first. A rating describes the state of the evidence, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Cardiovascular risk markers

Heart Health
Limited evidence

Evidence is limited. Observational data associates higher ALA intake with modestly lower cardiovascular risk, but trials using ALA-rich oils have not clearly demonstrated the benefit seen with long-chain marine omega-3.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

3 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Inflammatory markers

Inflammation
Limited evidence

Evidence is limited and mixed. Some trials report small reductions in C-reactive protein with ALA-rich oils, while pooled analyses often find no clear effect.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

3 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Blood lipid profile

Heart Health
Insufficient evidence

Evidence is limited and inconsistent. Trials of flaxseed oil generally report smaller lipid effects than trials of the ground seed, which suggests the fibre and lignans contribute more than the oil does.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

No source is attached to this association yet, so it is rated insufficient by default. It is listed because people commonly ask about it — not because there is evidence for it.

Ask about Flaxseed oil

Ask about Flaxseed oil

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Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories884 kcal44%
Protein0.11 g0%
Total fat100 g128%
Carbohydrate0 g0%
Fibre0 g0%
Total sugars0 g—
Water0.12 g—
Fats
Saturated fat8.98 g45%
Monounsaturated fat18.4 g—
Polyunsaturated fat67.8 g—
Cholesterol0 mg0%
ALA (omega-3)53.4 g—
EPA (omega-3)0 g—
DHA (omega-3)0 g—
DPA (omega-3)0 g—
Linoleic acid (omega-6)14.3 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A0 µg0%
Vitamin C0 mg0%
Vitamin D0 µg0%
Vitamin E0.47 mg3%
Vitamin K9.3 µg8%
Thiamin (B1)0 mg0%
Riboflavin (B2)0 mg0%
Niacin (B3)0 mg0%
Vitamin B60 mg0%
Folate0 µg0%
Vitamin B120 µg0%
Choline0.2 mg0%
Minerals
Calcium1 mg0%
Iron0 mg0%
Magnesium0 mg0%
Phosphorus1 mg0%
Potassium0 mg0%
Sodium0 mg0%
Zinc0.07 mg1%
Copper0 mg0%
Manganese0 mg0%
Selenium0 µg0%
Other measured compounds
Beta-carotene0 µg—
Alpha-carotene0 µg—
Lycopene0 µg—
Lutein + zeaxanthin0 µg—
Caffeine0 mg—
Ash0 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, flaxseed, cold pressed (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 167702).

% 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.

Bioactive compounds

Compounds present in meaningful amounts. Presence is banded rather than quantified, because whole-food levels vary enormously with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

How preparation changes things

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.

  • rawPreserves ALA integrity

    Flaxseed oil should be used unheated, in dressings or stirred into food after cooking, since heating rapidly oxidises its polyunsaturated fat.

Things to know

Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.

  • Worth knowing

    Rapid oxidation and no cooking

    Flaxseed oil is the least oxidatively stable common edible oil because of its very high polyunsaturated content. It must be refrigerated in opaque bottles, used within weeks of opening, and never used for frying. Rancid flax oil smells like old paint and is not something to persist with.

  • Worth knowing

    Not equivalent to ground flaxseed

    The oil supplies ALA but not the lignans, fibre or protein of the whole seed. Evidence for blood pressure and bowel effects comes largely from the ground seed rather than the oil.

  • Interaction

    Anticoagulant medication

    High omega-3 intakes have modest effects on platelet function. The clinical relevance at food doses appears small, but it is sometimes raised for people on anticoagulants or before surgery.