Cottonseed oil: properties, processing and reported health benefits
What it found
Cottonseed oil is used for cooking and in food manufacturing, and the authors say its makeup and health benefits vary with the cotton species and where it is grown.
The paper pulls together what is known about its properties and reported benefits.
What they found
Where the oil comes from
Cottonseed oil is obtained from the seeds of various cotton species. The most prominently used species is Gossypium hirsutum.
Seeds vary by variety
Seeds from different cotton varieties grown in diverse agroclimatic conditions vary in their oil, fat and protein contents.
How it is processed
Cottonseed oil goes through proper extraction and processing steps, from a crude state to refined oil, in a variety of ways.
Cooking and food use
Cottonseed oil is routinely used for cooking and in food manufacturing products.
Dual-use cotton crop
The cotton crop is considered dual-use, grown for both fiber quality and oil production to promote health benefits.
What the authors conclude
- They say the review clearly demonstrated an overview about physicochemical and functional properties of cottonseed oil to promote health benefits associated with the use of this oil.
- They state that the overall characteristics and all concerned health benefits of CSO will further improve their usefulness in a compact way.
- They have summarized a brief multi-dimensional features of CSO in all aspects for end researchers who can further research in the respective aspect.
How it was done
Vegetable oils play a vital role in the human diet for health benefits, and the authors wanted to bring together what is known about cottonseed oil's properties and health benefits.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review of existing information, not a new study in people or animals.
- It cannot show that using cottonseed oil causes any particular health outcome.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology - NIGAB, Pakistan; Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan; Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan
The paper
- Title
- Physicochemical features, functional characteristics, and health benefits of cottonseed oil: a review
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Zia MA, Shah SH, Shoukat S, Hussain Z, Khan SU, Shafqat N (2021). Physicochemical features, functional characteristics, and health benefits of cottonseed oil: a review. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia. doi:10.1590/1519-6984.243511PubMed 34378680DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error