Table 12.
Literature studies on the effect of hempseed oil dietary supplementation on humans.
| Supplement Type | Purpose | Experimental Design | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-pressed hempseed oil | Evaluation of the effect of dietary hempseed oil and olive oil on plasma lipid profiles, TEWL, skin quality, and dermal medication usage in patients with atopic dermatitis. | Controlled, randomized single-blind crossover study, based on two intervention periods of 8-weeks last, separated by a 4-weeks washout period. Patients (n = 20) with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis were randomly divided into two groups. Every patient of each group orally consumed 30 mL/day of olive or hempseed oils. • Inclusion criteria: BMI < 30 Kg/m2; 25–60 years old. • Exclusion criteria: assumption of lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive or asthma medications, nutrient supplements, steroid-containing skin creams, oral cyclosporine, and use of solarium during the study and in the previous month. |
A relatively short period of hempseed oil dietary consumption significantly improved skin quality and the atopic symptomology of the patients without any negative side effects or adverse reactions. The dietary treatment significantly increased the plasma level of LA, ALA, and GLA; significantly decreased the TEWL values and patients’ skin dryness, itchiness, and dermal medication usage. |
[143] |
| Cold-pressed under nitrogen atmosphere hempseed oil | Evaluation and comparison of the effects of dietary hempseed oil and flaxseed oil on the profile of serum lipids, fasting serum total and lipoprotein lipid concentrations, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, and hemostatic factors in healthy volunteers. | Controlled, randomized single-blind crossover study, based on two intervention periods of 4-weeks last, separated by a 4-weeks washout period. Male (n = 8) and female (n = 6) healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. Every volunteer of each group orally consumed 30 mL/day of flax or hempseed oils. • Inclusion criteria: BMI < 30 Kg/m2; 25–60 years old; fasting serum concentration of TG < 3.5 mmol/L; fasting serum concentration of TC 5.0–7.5 mmol/L; fasting plasma glucose < 6.0 mmol/L. • Exclusion criteria: assumption of lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive medications and nutrient supplements during the study and in the previous month. |
In healthy subjects, 4-weeks daily of orally ingestion of hempseed oil: • Reduced the total plasma TGs concentration; • Significantly decreased the TC/HDL-C ratio, lowering the risk of coronary heart diseases; • Significantly changed the FA composition of serum TG and CE, increasing the LA, ALA, and GLA amounts and decreasing the OA content, whereas the AA and DHA amount did not differ; • Did not modify the plasma glucose, insulin, and hemostatic factor like fibrinogen, FVIIa, and PAI-1. |
[144] |
| Hempseed oil capsule | Evaluation and comparison of the effects of the hempseed, flaxseed, and fish dietary oils on cardiovascular parameters (lipid profile, LDL oxidation, inflammatory markers and platelet aggregation) in healthy volunteers. | Double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial. Male (n = 34) and female (n = 54) healthy volunteers were randomly divided into 4 groups (placebo, fish oil, flaxseed oil, and hempseed oil). The volunteers of each group were orally daily supplemented with 2 capsules each containing 1 g of the relative treatment for 12 weeks. • Inclusion criteria: fasting TC levels <5.2 mM; non-smokers; consumption of fish not more than once a week and not more than 29.6 mL/day of alcohol consumption. • Exclusion criteria: usage of aspirin; ibuprofen; and/or other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications as well as thyroid, anticoagulant, or lipid-lowering medication and the presence of menopause or chronic illness. |
2 × 1g hempseed oil capsule daily supplementation, administrated for 12 weeks did not significantly affect the ALA and LA plasma levels; TC, TG, LDL, and HDL amounts, or inflammatory (CRP, and TNF-α) and platelet aggregation analyzed markers (collagen and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation). | [145] |
| Hempseed oil soft capsule | Evaluation of the role of hempseed oil in the modulation of hyperlipidaemia and CVD risk in children and adolescents. | Randomized, controlled, two-arm parallel-group study. Children and adolescents (n = 36) with diagnosis of primary hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into two groups. Each subject of the test group was dietary supplemented with one hempseed oil soft capsule containing 3 g of oil for 8 weeks. The other group was used as control (without control). • Inclusion criteria: assessment of primary hyperlipidaemia; 6–16 years old. • Exclusion criteria: diagnosis of secondary hyperlipidaemia, and/or renal, endocrine, lipid, neurologic, onco-hematologic disorders requiring drug treatment; BMI > 85th percentile; smokers. |
The 8-weeks daily intake of 3 g of hempseed oil: • Did not affect the levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TGs; • Did not change the values of body weight, BMI, and blood pressure; • Significantly modified the RBC FAs composition increasing the total n-3 PUFAs, n-3 LCPUFAs, and n-6 LCPUFAs, and decreasing the n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio as well as the SFAs and MUFAs. |
[146] |
| Hempseed oil and evening primrose oil (HSO/EPO, 9:1) co-supplementation | Evaluation of the therapeutic and protective effect of the Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO or of the HSO/EPO dietary co-supplementation on MS patients. | Double blind, randomized trial. Female (n = 42) and male (n = 23) patients with diagnosis of RMSS were randomly divided into three groups. Each group (A, B, and C) was subjected to a Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with 18–21 g of HSO/EPO (9:1) (group A) or to 18–21 g olive oil supplementation (group B), or to 18–21 g of HSE/EPO (9:1) co-supplementation (group C) for 6 months. • Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of RRMS (EDSS < 6); 14–55 years old. • Exclusion criteria: diagnosis of secondary or primary progressive MS; pregnancy; corticosteroid treatment; and diagnosis of other chronic neurological and inflammatory diseases such as cancer, rheumatic diseases, and heart diseases. |
6 months of Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO or of HSO/EPO co-supplementation significantly improved the MS clinical condition and inflammatory status of the patients, without any adverse effects. • Both treatments significantly improved the degree of Th2/Th1 ratio and the value of EDSS and of relapse rate; • Both treatments significantly increased the level of anti-inflammatory IL-4 cytokine; • Only the Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO significantly decreased the level of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines; • The co-supplementation of HSO/EPO led to a decreasing (but not statistically significant) trend in the level of IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines. |
[147] |
| Hempseed oil and evening primrose oil (HSO/EPO, 9:1) co-supplementation | Evaluation of the Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO in patients with RRMS on the type and level of produced cytokines. | Females (n = 16) and males (n = 7) patients with diagnosis of RRMS were subjected to a Hot-natured dietary regimen co-supplemented with 18–21 g of HSE/EPO (9:1), for 6 months. • Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of RRMS (EDSS < 6); 14–55 years old. • Exclusion criteria: diagnosis of secondary or primary progressive MS; pregnancy; corticosteroid treatment; and diagnosis of other chronic neurological and inflammatory diseases such as cancer, rheumatic diseases, and heart diseases. |
6 months of Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO had a beneficial effect in RRMS patients by decreasing the Th1 cells and by promoting the Th2 cell responses. This dietary treatment led to: • A significant improvement of EDSS; • A significant decrease of the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-17); •A significant increase of the production of anti-inflammatory IL-4. |
[148] |
| Hempseed oil and evening primrose oil (HSO/EPO, 9:1) co-supplementation | Investigation of the effect of the Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO or of the solely HSO/EPO dietary co-supplementation on MS patient’s liver dysfunction. | Double blind, randomized trial. Female (n = 42) and male (n = 23) patients with diagnosis of RMSS were randomly divided into three groups. Each group (A, B, and C) was subjected to a Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with 18–21 g of HSO/EPO (9:1) (group A) or to 18–21 g olive oil supplementation (group B), or to 18-21 g of HSE/EPO (9:1) co-supplementation (group C) for 6 months. • Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of RRMS (EDSS < 6); 14–55 years old. • Exclusion criteria: diagnosis of secondary or primary progressive MS; pregnancy; corticosteroid treatment; and diagnosis of other chronic neurological and inflammatory diseases such as cancer, rheumatic diseases, and heart diseases. |
6 months of Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO or of HSO/EPO co-supplementation significantly improved the MS patients’ liver dysfunction, without any adverse effects. • Both treatments significantly improved the EDSS value; • Both treatments significantly decrease the AST enzyme serum level; • Only the Hot-natured diet co-supplemented with HSO/EPO significantly decreased the ALT and GGT enzyme serum levels. |
[149] |
ALA: α-linolenic Acid; ALT: (SGPT) alanine-aminotransferase; AST: (SGOT) aspartate- aminotransferase; BMI: Body Mass Index; CVD: Cardiovascular Disease; EDSS: Extended Disability Status Score; FA: Fatty Acid; Cholesteryl ester; FVIIa: coagulation Factor VIIa; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transferase; GLA: γ-Linolenic Acid; HDL-C: High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol; LA: Linoleic Acid; LCPUFAs: Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids; LDL-C: Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol; MS: Multiple Sclerosis; MUFAs: Monounsaturated Fatty Acids; OA: Oleic Acid; PAI-1: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; PUFAs: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids; RBC: Red Blood Cell; RRMS: Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis; SDA: Stearidonic Acid; SFAs: Saturated Fatty Acids; TC: Total Cholesterol; TEWEL: trans-epidermal water loss; TG: Triglyceride.