Almond Oil: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Almond oil (Oleum amygdalae) is extracted from the drupe fruit of the almond plant (Prunus amygdalus, syn. Prunus dulcis). It has been used in medicines due to the high amount of health benefits it carries. (1)

Almond fruit itself is a nutritionally dense food. It contains amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and secondary metabolites. (2)

Almond oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-oleic acids, which are known for reducing low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) levels. (1)

Along with lowering LDL, the oil is also known for reducing irritable bowel syndrome, boosting immune systems, acting as an anti-inflammatory agent, and can have anti-hepatotoxicity effects. (1) 

It tastes mildly bitter or sweet based on the almond nuts used for preparation. The addition of this oil to food enhances the flavor of the food. Refined almond oil is used for roasting and sautéing, whereas unrefined almond oil can be used as finishing oil after preparing food.   

Nutrition Facts

Almond oil is rich in various nutritional components like MUFAs, PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids), and vitamins like E and K. Consumption of  MUFAs like oleic acid is considered highly beneficial. (3)  

100 gm of the oil provides 884 Kcal energy and has 100 gm of fat. Daily requirements for adults and energy and total fat content in almond oil is as follows (3,4)  

Name	Amount	Daily Requirements for Adults
Energy	884 Kcal	2000-2,500 Kcal
Total fat	100 g	60-80 g

Vitamins

Almond oil is a rich source of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant. It is also a good source of vitamin K. 100 gm of the oil has 39.2 mg of vitamin E and 7 mcg of vitamin K. (3) 0.4 mg of choline is also present in 100 gm of the oil. (3) Daily adult requirement for vitamins K and E are as follows: (3,4)

Name	Amount	Daily Requirements for Adults
Vitamin E	39.2 mg	15 mg
Vitamin K	7 mcg	90 mcg*

* Adequate intake (AI) level determined by National Academy of Medicine. 

Fatty Acids (Saturated and Unsaturated)

Both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are found in almond oil. Saturated fatty acids like palmitic and stearic acids are present in the oil. 100 gm of the oil has 6.5 gm of palmitic acid and 1.7 gm of stearic acid. Both mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acid is also present in the oil. 100 g of the oil has 0.6 gm palmitoleic acid and 69.4 gm oleic acid. At the same time, 17.4 gm of linoleic acid is present per 100 gm of the oil. (3)

Name	Amount
SFA 16:0 (Palmitic acid)	6.5 g
SFA 18:0 (Stearic acid)	1.7 g
MUFA 16:1 (Palmitoleic acid)	0.6 g
MUFA 18:1 (Oleic acid)	69.4 g
PUFA 18:2 (Linoleic acid)	17.4 g

Health Benefits

Almond oil is rich in macro and micro-nutrients. It is used in food flavoring and cosmetic industries. Since the oil is rich in mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, it plays a significant role in various body areas. It has been known to help manage cardiovascular disease, reduce oxidative stress, neuroprotection, and skin and cosmetic applications. (5) 

A brief description of various health benefits acquired after the use of almond oils are as follows:

1. May decline the level of cholesterol: The consumption of foods with almond oil has demonstrated cholesterol-lowering effects. A study conducted in non-lipidemic men and women on the impact of almond nuts and its oil concluded that almond oil had shown a decrease in plasma triglyceride and total and LDL cholesterol. (6) Another study in individuals with hyperlipidemia also concluded that consumption of food with the oil lowered their cholesterol levels. (7) 
2. Can have an inhibition effect on some cancers: An experiment conducted in lab rats concluded that the intraperitoneal route, along with aspirin, inhibits the formation of new blood vessels in tumor cells. (8) It can be cancer inhibitory and anti-angiogenesis agent. However, human testing is required for confirmation. 
3. May restore blood parameters: Favism is a metabolic disorder occurring in rats. Adding almond oil to the feed of rats with favism help in improving blood parameters, antioxidants in the liver and blood, and liver function. (9) 
4. Can acts as a pro-inflammatory agent: The addition of almond oil in beverages of young athletes improved pro-inflammatory reaction against exercise. (10) However, the sample result was not observed in the senior group of people. (10) 
5. May reduce pressure injuries: Applying almond oil as a topical cream helps reduce pressure injuries compared to using a placebo (liquid paraffin) or other standard methods of care. (11) 
6. Can prevent UV damage in hair: The application of almond oil to hair before heading out in the sun or before swimming under the sun can avoid damage caused by UV. It also provides moisture in dry hair, prevents protein loss, and increases hair’s elasticity. (12)