The omega-7 fatty acid is still relatively unknown. However, its essential functions for your body are very important. Therefore, in this article, we explain exactly what omega-7 is and why you should include it in your diet.
Table of contents
Among the best-known and most researched fatty acids are Omega-3 and Omega-6 , as the body needs them to survive but cannot produce them itself. Less well-known but equally important is the fatty acid Omega-7 . In this article, you'll learn what it actually is, what it does for you , and which foods you can find it in .
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1. What is Omega-7?
Omega-7 is a monounsaturated fatty acid with 16 carbon atoms. It is also called palmitoleic acid because the body can produce it from palmitic acid.
This is a key difference from the essential omega-3 fatty acid. The omega-7 fatty acid owes its name to the fact that its double bond is located at the seventh carbon atom.
2. Why is Omega-7 important?
Palmitoleic acid is a lipoprotein with hormone-like activity that is released by adipose tissue and interacts with other organs .
In comparison to the extensively studied omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, scientists have not yet been able to establish any causal links between certain health deficiencies and the omega-7 level in the body.
However, researchers have shown that palmitoleic acid is involved in metabolic regulation and has a positive effect on insulin sensitivity and the formation of enzymes and cytokines in animals . [1]
Consuming or eating foods containing omega-7 can help you feel fuller for longer because it interacts directly with satiety hormones.
In 2013, Asian scientists found that rats consumed less food after administering palmitoleic acid , while the release of the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) was increased. [2]
In addition, researchers from the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department at Clemson University found in 2014 that omega-7 fatty acids can help normalize blood lipid levels and stimulate fat burning.[3, 4]
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3. Omega-7 foods
Even if your body is capable of producing omega-7 on its own, there are some foods that prove to be an excellent source. Due to their high fat content, macadamia nuts are a popular and healthy snack, especially among biohackers and those on ketogenic diets .
What few people know: Up to 36% of the fat content of macadamia nuts comes from palmitoleic acid, or omega-7 fatty acids . You would have to eat six times as much of other nuts to achieve these values.
Another food rich in omega-7 is sea buckthorn . Sea buckthorn is considered an excellent antioxidant , as demonstrated by an Indian study at the Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences.
There, researchers discovered that sea buckthorn has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as protective functions for cells and the liver. [5]
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4. Conclusion
Compared to the research findings on omega-3 and 6, omega-7 is still a relatively unknown fatty acid. This fatty acid, also known as palmitoleic acid, is produced naturally by your body, so exogenous intake through food or supplementation is generally unnecessary.
Nevertheless, sea buckthorn and macadamia nuts are ideal sources of omega-7. Furthermore, current studies show that the omega-7 fatty acid can influence metabolism, satiety, and insulin sensitivity, as well as offering various protective properties for your cells.
5. Sources
[1] Frigolet, Maria & Gutierrez-Aguilar, Ruth. (2017). Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal. 8., p173S-181S. The Role of the Novel Lipokine Palmitoleic Acid in Health and Disease. doi: 10.3945/an.115.011130. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312519410_The_Role_of_the_Novel_Lipokine_Palmitoleic_Acid_in_Health_and_Disease]
[2] Yang ZH, Takeo J, Katayama M (2013). Appetite, p. 1-7. Oral administration of omega-7 palmitoleic acid induces satiety and the release of appetite-related hormones in male rats. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.01.009 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23376733/]
[3] Duckett, SK, Volpi-Lagreca, G., Alende, M., & Long, NM (2014). Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity: targets and therapy, p. 553-563. Palmitoleic acid reduces intramuscular lipid and restores insulin sensitivity in obese sheep. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S72695 [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4243576/]
[4] Nunes EA, Rafacho A (2017). Curr Drug Targets, p 619-628. Implications of Palmitoleic Acid (Palmitoleate) On Glucose Homeostasis, Insulin Resistance and Diabetes. doi:10.2174/1389450117666151209120345 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26648072/]
[5] Suryakumar G, Gupta A (2011). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, p. 268-278. Medicinal and therapeutic potential of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.024 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874111006945?via%3Dihub]
