Sea Buckthorn
Sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, is a shrub with orange berries, used in berries, purees, powders, extracts and oils.
Also listed as Hippophae rhamnoides, Buckthorn, Buckthorn Bark, Sea Buckthorn Bark
Will capsules hydrate dry skin?
A manufacturer-supported trial in 40 women over 45 tested oil for 12 weeks. Skin moisture rose numerically, but the table did not mark that change as statistically significant. Some other skin measurements improved; baseline imbalances and reporting limitations make this preliminary evidence rather than a dependable hydration claim. 1
The small trial did not establish a statistically significant moisture benefit. 1
Why do cholesterol reviews disagree?
A 2022 review found improved blood lipids, mainly in people with abnormal levels. A newer review found no significant overall lipid benefit and rated certainty very low. It could not retrieve several trials included previously. Different evidence sets and preparations help explain the disagreement; neither supports a reliable cholesterol-lowering promise. 2 3
What about dry eyes?
A Finnish trial recruited 100 people with dry-eye symptoms to take 2 g of oil or placebo daily for three months. Oil reduced the seasonal rise in tear concentration, a marker of dryness. Redness and burning findings depended on which participants were analyzed, leaving the symptom benefit less settled. 4
Can oil help vaginal dryness after menopause?
In a Finnish trial of 116 postmenopausal women, 3 g daily for three months improved one measure of vaginal tissue integrity. The overall vaginal-health index did not improve significantly. This is a specific tissue finding, not proof of equivalence to estrogen; the lead author was affiliated with the oil company Aromtech. 5
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Longevity1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Immune Support1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Cardiovascular1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Hair & Skin2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Gut Health1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Organ Function1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Other effects1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- The impact of oral sea-buckthorn oil on skin, blood markers, ocular, and vaginal health: A randomized control trial Journal of Functional Foods, 2024
- Oral sea buckthorn oil attenuates tear film osmolarity and symptoms in individuals with dry eye Journal of Nutrition, 2010