Walnut Oil: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects By Dr. Smita Barode

Introduction:

Walnuts are essential for the body to obtain the vitamins and minerals it wants. It is scientifically known as Juglans regia L. and is a member of the Juglandaceae family. Walnut oil is prepared from dried and pressed walnut seeds by cold pressing extraction method. It is also termed ‘akhrot ka tel’ in Hindi. The Romans called it ‘Jovis Glans,’ which means ‘Jupiter’s King Fruit’. There are 18 species of walnut worldwide, but because of its size and sweetness, the Anatolian walnut (Iranian walnut or English walnut) is the most grown commercially. It is grown in India, China, Japan, the United States, Canada, and Central America.^1,2 Let’s read and find out more about walnut oil benefits and properties. 

Nutritional Value of Walnut Oil:

100ml of walnut oil possesses the following nutrients:³ 

• Energy: 800 kcal
• Total Lipid (Fat): 93.3 g
• Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 10 g
• Total Monounsaturated Fatty Acids: 13.3 g
• Total Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: 66.7 g

Vitamins present in the walnut oil:² 

• Vitamin E 
• Vitamin C 
• Vitamin B1 
• Vitamin B2 
• Vitamin B3 

Walnut oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. Walnut oil also contains proteins, polyphenols, ellagic, malic and gallic acid and phytonutrients like zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and selenium.²  

Properties of Walnut Oil:

Following are the walnut oil properties:² 

• It might have anti-oxidant properties. 
• It may be an anti-bacterial agent. 
• It might be an anti-inflammatory agent. 
• It might show anti-viral properties. 
• It may have antiseptic properties. 

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are frequently lacking in the diet, are abundant in walnut oil. However, I recommend its use sparingly, much like other cooking oils, to prevent putting too many extra calories in your diet and posing health hazards. For instance, walnuts have the potential to produce a serious allergic response in persons who are allergic to nuts. If they consume walnut oil, some people who are sensitive to peanuts might develop an allergic response.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Potential Uses of Walnut Oil for Overall Health:

Following are the walnut oil uses: 

1. Potential uses of walnut oil for diabetes 

Walnut oil contains monosaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid. It may balance insulin and act against diabetes. In a study by Nezhad et al., 2016 eating walnut oil for three months lowers fasting blood sugar and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and maintains blood glucose levels. HbA1c is a blood sugar level measurement for the previous two or three months. This study also showed that lowered cardiovascular problems of type-2 diabetes without changing the weight or blood pressure. Thus, walnut oil may show an anti-diabetic effect.⁴ However, diabetes is a serious condition; it can cause severe side effects. So, please consult the doctor for better health results. 

2. Potential uses of walnut oil for cholesterol 

Walnut oil contains plant sterols called phytosterols, omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids. These compounds in walnut oil may lower cholesterol absorption into the body. It may also lower blood triglyceride levels. As a result, it may lower total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This way, it may help lower cholesterol in the body.² Even so, more research is required to determine the effect of walnut oil on cholesterol. Kindly consult the doctor and do not self-medicate. 

3. Potential uses of walnut oil for multiple sclerosis 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease related to the central nervous system (CNS). T cells are present in the body and kill the infection-causing cells in the body by releasing cytokines. These cells can cause inflammation and damage to the myelin. The covering that surrounds and protects the nerve fibres is myelin. In MS patients, T helper cells, such as Th1 and Th17 and their cytokines can initiate an attack on the CNS. Walnut oil contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may lower Th1 activity in MS patients. Walnut oil may help avoid damage to myelin and nerve fibres in the CNS. As a result, walnut oil may be effective in multiple sclerosis.⁵ Because MS is a severe disorder, please consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Do not attempt to self-medicate. 

4. Potential uses of walnut oil for skin 

Walnut oil contains essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids, which are necessary for normal skin function. It may have moisturising properties and also anti-oxidant properties. In addition, it may assist in regulating trans-epidermal water loss, which is the amount of water that evaporates from the skin. In this way, walnut oil might be beneficial for skin problems. Just like it may benefit dry skin, it may be useful for dry hair and dandruff-prone scalp. As a result, walnut oil may be used for sunburn, skin ulcers and itchy scalp.² However, you must consult a doctor before using walnut oil because it may cause side effects. 

5. Potential uses of walnut oil for Alzheimer’s disease 

According to Liao et al., 2020 walnut oil regulates the activity of cholinergic receptors, which is related to regulating physiological activities like attention, memory, learning, and stress response in mice. It may reduce oxidative stress, which is generated by an imbalance between the creation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. It is the ability to detoxify these reactive products. Another study found that eating walnut oil may lower the chance of age-related disorders. As a result, walnut oil might help reduce memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients.⁶ However, walnut oil and its effects on Alzheimer’s disease require more research. Kindly consult the doctor, as Alzheimer’s disease is a serious condition. Do not try to self-medicate. 

6. Potential uses of walnut oil for cardiovascular diseases 

Phytonutrients and monounsaturated fats in walnut oil may reduce inflammation and help protect the heart. It may also benefit the cardiovascular system by lowering cholesterol and reducing inflammation. More research is in need to determine the effects of walnut oil on cardiovascular diseases.² As walnut oil may cause side effects, kindly consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Do not self-medicate. 

7. Potential uses of walnut oil for cancer 

The omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid) in walnut oil may reduce inflammation and lower the risk of developing breast, colon and prostate cancer. More research is required to prove the effects of walnut oil on cancer.² As cancer is a severe condition, it may cause severe side effects. Please consult a doctor and do not self-medicate. 

Though there are studies that show the benefits of walnut oil in various conditions, but these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of walnut oil on human health.  

There are many calories in walnut oil. To avoid unintended weight gain, I suggest you use walnut oil carefully whether you use it in your cooking, to pour it over salads, or blend it into a sauce. Obesity may lead to major medical concerns including cardiovascular disease, some kinds of cancer, and other health issues.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

How to Use Walnut Oil?

Because of its numerous advantages, usage of vegetable oils is being replaced by walnut oil.² So, let’s look at how to use walnut oil: 

• Walnut oil can be mainly used as an ingredient in cold dishes such as salads or dips, as it tastes bitter after exposure to hot temperatures.²  
• It may be formulated as an anti-ageing cream for the skin due to its greasy texture. 
• Walnut oil might be used as a salad dressing.²  
• We can use it in bread, biscuits and cake production.¹ 
• After cooking, walnut oil can be sprayed over the food since it is not very palatable when exposed to high temperatures.²   

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

Side Effects of Walnut Oil:

Walnut oil might cause allergies in some individuals. Therefore, you must ensure that they are not allergic to walnut oil before eating and applying it.⁵ However, if any negative side effects occur while using it, seek immediate treatment. Consult the ayurvedic physician who prescribed it to you; they will be able to identify and solve the problem.   

Precautions to Take With Walnut Oil:

There haven’t been any reports on walnut oil safety precautions. Also, there are no specific precautions to take before its application and consumption in pregnant women, children and the elderly. However, consult a physician before its usage in any form.    

Interactions With Other Drugs:

There have been no known adverse drug interactions with walnut oil. However, additional research is necessary for this topic to ensure that it does not interfere with other medications and is safe for use. As a result, your ayurvedic physician’s advice must be carefully followed, as their prescription is based on your health condition. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

References:

1. BİNİCİ Hİ, ŞAT İG, Aoudeh E. Nutritional Composition and Health Benefits of Walnut and its Products. Atatürk University Journal of Agricultural Faculty 2021; 52(2): 224-30 2021;52(2):224-30. Available from: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1455967 
2. Radu O, Fuior A, Capcanari T. The study of biological and nutritional potential of walnut oil. Available from: http://repository.utm.md/bitstream/handle/5014/9041/Conf_StudentiDoctoranzi_2013_Kiev_p472-473.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 
3. FoodData Central. Walnut oil, (BRANDED, 1857543) [Internet]. Department of Agriculture. [Cited 2022, oct 10] Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1857543/nutrients 
4. Zibaeenezhad M, Aghasadeghi K, Hakimi H, Yarmohammadi H, Nikaein F. The effect of walnut oil consumption on blood sugar in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. International journal of endocrinology and metabolism. 2016 Jul;14(3). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5219895/pdf/ijem-14-03-34889.pdf 
5. Ganji A, Farahani I, Palizvan MR, Ghazavi A, Ejtehadifar M, Ebrahimimonfared M, Shojapour M, Mosayebi G. Therapeutic effects of walnut oil on the animal model of multiple sclerosis. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2019 Mar 4;22(3):215-22. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1028415X.2017.1371389?scroll=top&needAccess=true 
6. Liao J, Nai Y, Feng L, Chen Y, Li M, Xu H. Walnut oil prevents scopolamine-induced memory dysfunction in a mouse model. Molecules. 2020 Apr 2;25(7):1630. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7180932/pdf/molecules-25-01630.pdf 

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