Rapeseed

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Cholesterol and heart risk²

  In people, rapeseed oil lowered total and bad cholesterol compared with other cooking oils.

• Open question

  Heart health compared to olive oil³

  Scientists do not yet know whether rapeseed oil offers the same heart benefits as olive oil.

• Benefit

  Blood cholesterol levels⁴

  Canola oil lowered total and LDL cholesterol compared with diets high in saturated fats like butter.

• Benefit

  Liver fat in obese men⁵

  In obese men with fatty liver, daily rapeseed oil lowered liver fat over 8 weeks.

• Benefit

  Belly fat and blood pressure⁶

  In people, rapeseed oil diets cut belly fat and blood pressure more than some other oils.

• Concern

  Blood fats after meals⁷

  In people, canola oil raised blood fats and inflammation markers more than coconut oil after eating.

• Benefit

  Cholesterol levels⁸

  In people, rapeseed oil lowered cholesterol and helped the body pass more of it out.

• Benefit

  Weight loss and blood sugar⁹

  In obese people dieting, rapeseed oil was linked to lower fasting insulin and improved insulin resistance.

• Open question

  Muscle building after exercise¹⁰

  In young women, canola protein did not boost muscle building after exercise beyond the workout itself.

• No harm found

  Heart and kidney health¹¹

  In adults with overweight, eating rapeseed oil daily for 12 weeks changed no heart or kidney markers.

• Benefit

  Heart risk markers¹²

  In people with heart risk factors, canola oil lowered one blood marker but olive oil lowered another.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Starch digestion in tortillas¹⁴

  In lab studies, tortillas made with canola oil and candelilla wax broke down into sugar more slowly than plain ones.

• Concern

  Heart health in animals¹⁵

  In animal studies, rapeseed oil's erucic acid built up in body fat and caused heart tissue changes.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Heart health and cholesterol¹³

  Canola oil is low in saturated fat and high in better fats, which may help cholesterol levels.

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 one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. 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.