Rapeseed oil compared with olive oil in the diet
What it found
Rapeseed oil has only short-term studies on heart risk markers, while extra virgin olive oil has stronger evidence for heart protection and some cancers.
The authors say rapeseed oil cannot yet be recommended as a substitute for extra virgin olive oil in a Mediterranean-style diet.
What they found
Studies in people
Olive oil and heart
Evidence from epidemiological studies for cardiovascular protection from extra virgin olive oil is described as convincing.
Olive oil and cancer
Evidence for extra virgin olive oil and cancers is limited-suggestive, especially for oestrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.
Olive oil and thinking
More studies are required on extra virgin olive oil in relation to cognitive impairment.
Rapeseed oil evidence
Evidence for rapeseed oil is limited to short-term studies on biomarkers of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Other findings
Rapeseed oil and frying
Any benefits of rapeseed oil are likely due to alpha-linolenic acid, but this is prone to oxidation during frying.
What the authors conclude
“We conclude that due to a lack of evidence from observational or intervention studies indicating that RO has comparable health benefits to extra-virgin OO, RO cannot currently be recommended as a suitable substitute for extra-virgin OO as part of a Mediterranean-style diet.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that due to a lack of evidence from observational or intervention studies indicating that rapeseed oil has comparable health benefits to extra-virgin olive oil, rapeseed oil cannot currently be recommended as a suitable substitute for extra-virgin olive oil as part of a Mediterranean-style diet.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether rapeseed oil could be a sustainable alternative to olive oil in countries where olive trees do not grow.
They compared evidence from experimental, epidemiological and clinical studies of rapeseed oil and olive oil.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The review did not find long-term studies in people that compare rapeseed oil directly with extra virgin olive oil for health outcomes.
- It cannot show whether rapeseed oil would have the same health benefits as extra virgin olive oil in a Mediterranean-style diet.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Hertfordshire, UK; Cancer Institute, France
The paper
- Title
- Can rapeseed oil replace olive oil as part of a Mediterranean-style diet?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Hoffman R, Gerber M (2014). Can rapeseed oil replace olive oil as part of a Mediterranean-style diet?. The British journal of nutrition. doi:10.1017/S0007114514002888PubMed 25322908DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error