Palm olein

Studies in people

• No harm found

  Blood fat levels³

  In people, eating palm olein changed blood fats no differently than olive oil did.

• Open question

  Liver fat and body fat⁴

  In healthy adults, palm olein did not change liver fat, but body fat fell more with soybean oil and cocoa butter.

• Concern

  Infant bone and nutrient absorption⁵

  In infant studies, palm olein in formula led to less fat, calcium and bone mass than formulas without it.

• Concern

  Infant calcium absorption⁶

  In infant studies, formula with palm olein led to less calcium staying in the body and less fat absorbed.

• Concern

  Blood fats after eating⁷

  In a study of healthy men, palm olein raised blood fats more than lard did after a fatty meal.

• Open question

  Blood cholesterol levels⁸

  In people, palm olein raised total and LDL cholesterol more than olive oil, but lowered triglycerides.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Liver fat buildup¹¹

  In animal studies, eating lots of palm olein raised LDL cholesterol and liver fat in mice.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Infant brain development⁹

  Scientists do not yet know whether palm olein in infant formula affects how babies' brains develop.

How it’s made and used

• Fat digestion in the gut¹⁰

  In lab studies, palm olein broke down fastest when it made up a small share of the mixture.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.