Sesame Oil: Complete Vitamin Profile

Sesame Oil ‐ Vitamin Information

In recent years, sesame oil has become increasingly popular for its concept of healthy eating and herbal remedies. Sesame oil is a nutritional supplement that contains a variety of essential vitamins and minerals needed by the body to maintain proper health. This paper will discuss what vitamins are found within sesame oil, how they work in the body, their benefits, and potential side effects if over-consumed.

One of the main components of sesame oil is Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient required by the body to perform vital functions such as forming red blood cells and keeping cell membranes healthy (1). It is found naturally in some food sources, but it can also be taken as part of dietary supplements. In sesame oil, Vitamin E helps protect your skin against sun damage, improve hair quality, reduce inflammation, and support immune system function (2). Not only this, but Vitamin E is known to have anti-aging properties due to its antioxidant capability (3). Additionally, Vitamin E helps promote the production of collagen which helps improve elasticity in skin and minimizes wrinkles(4).

Sesame oil also contains B Vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and biotin. These vitamins play significant roles in the body such as helping preserve cognitive functioning, ensuring fatty acids are converted into energy, supporting metabolic processes, and helping create DNA, RNA, and hemoglobin molecules in the body. Furthermore, they increase neurological development, improve mental clarity, and provide increased protection against oxidative stress (5). The absence of these B vitamins can result in disorders or diseases related to the neurological system such as beri beri, pellagra, or anemia; therefore, consuming adequate amounts of these vitamins on a daily basis is important to avoid any complications (6).

Additionally, several other minerals and vitamins are present in sesame oil that help maintain overall health and well-being. Calcium present in sesame oil supports bone health and plays a role in digesting fats and proteins. Zinc found in sesame oil helps regulate hormones and enzyme activity. Magnesium promotes healthy nerve and muscle functioning while selenium improves circulation, digestion, immunity, and reproductive health (7). These vitamins and minerals all have distinct qualities and make up for what could not be sufficiently obtained from regular diets.

Research studies suggest that individuals who consume sesame oil on a daily basis experience improved levels of overall health because of its power to heal physical wounds, relieve pain, fight off infections, and restore neurotransmitter balance (8); however, that does not mean there aren’t any risks associated with consuming excessive sesame oil. Consuming too much sesame oil can lead to digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach ache, and even liver toxicity (9). In addition, those with allergies to nuts or seeds should exercise caution when consuming sesame oil or else severe allergic reactions may occur.

In conclusion, sesame oil is a powerful tool for improving one's wellbeing as it contains many useful vitamins and minerals that offer various health benefits; however, it must be consumed in moderation to prevent any harmful negative side effects. By understanding what vitamins are included in sesame oil, their numerous advantages, and potential risks associated with overconsumption, people can more confidently use sesame oil as part of a healthy lifestyle.

References:

1. "Vitamin E," National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, May 18, 2016, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/.

2. Daniel R Windsor, et al., “Vitamin E Derivatives in Treatment of HIV Infection, Sun Damage, Alzheimer's Disease, and Cancer: Comparative Overview of Clinical Trials. Biomed Res Int, vol. 2013, article ID 843968, 10 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/843968

3. Preetha Anand, et al., “Anti-Aging Effects of Topical Application of Natural Antioxidants - A Review,” International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 14, Issue 2, March 2019, Pages 130-141. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.20770/ijpsr.v14i2.3381

4. La Roche-Posay Laboratories, “Collagen Benefits For Skin Explained By Expert.” Last modified January 31, 2020. Accessed April 27, 2021. https://www.laroche-posay.com/expert_corner/collagen-benefits-for-skin-explained-by-expert

5. Allison Russo, et al., “What are B-Complex Vitamins & What Do They Do?” Healthline. December 19, 2018. Accessed April 28, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/b-complex-vitamins#

6. Mayo Clinic Staff, “Vitamin B Complex,” Mayo Clinic, May 8, 2019. Accessed April 28, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-B-complex/art-20363780

7. Rabia Shahid et al., “Review Article: Potential Benefits of Sesame Oil Constituents,” American Scientific Publishers, vol. 6 issue 3, pp 53–53, 2015. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2015.5895

8. Parth Trambadia et al., “Therapeutic Uses of Sesamol and Sesame Oil,” PharmaTutor, vol 4 issue 5, October 2016. DOI: https//doi.org/10.30454/pt.v4i59152

9. Sheela Sarah Geroge, “Effects and Side Effects of Eating Sesame Oil,” Health Guidance, February 2, 2021. Accessed April 28, 2021. https://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15825/1/effects-and-side-effects-of-eating-sesame-oil.html