Health Benefits of Seal Oil

Omega-3s reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, improve circulation, reduce the risk of blood clots, and fight plaque build-up in arteries. Both Health Canada and the American Health Association have long recommended the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids by anyone at risk of cardiovascular disease.  All Omega-3s, however, are not created equal.

Part of seal oil’s superior cardiovascular health benefits is the presence of DPA, an essential Omega-3 not found in fish oil.
In a 2010 study, Mann et al.Mann, N. J., O’Connell, S. L., Baldwin, K. M., Singh, I., & Meyer, B. J. (2010). Effects of seal oil and tuna-fish oil on platelet parameters and plasma lipid levels in healthy subjects. Lipids, 45(8), 669-681. found that DPA, even the amount in a low-dose seal oil supplement, appeared to induce changes protective of cardiovascular health in healthy subjects. The researchers noted that seal oil appeared to increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels and decrease plasma triacylglycerol (a lipid associated with cardiovascular disease). While both fish oil and seal oil improved blood DHA levels; only seal oil also raised DPA and EPA levels.
In other words, seal oil seems to better promote healthy blood plasma lipid profiles than fish oil does, in turn reducing the risk of blood clots, among other benefits.

A better cholesterol balance

Watching your cholesterol levels? Seal oil can help promote a better cholesterol balance and help in the battle against high cholesterol.

Seal oil is natural higher in HDL or “good” cholesterol than in LDL or “bad” cholesterol —a more favourable balance even that you will find in fish oil. As Dubey et al. (2001) found, a seal-oil enriched diet led to lower plasma lipid and lipid peroxidation levels than a diet enriched with fish oil.Dubey, Pratibha et al. “Diets Enriched in Fish-Oil or Seal-Oil have Distinct Effects on Lipid Levels and Peroxidation in BioF1B Hamsters.” Nutrition and metabolic insights vol. 4 7-17. 23 Mar. 2011, doi:10.4137/NMI.S6728.

DPA—found in seal oil, but not in fish oil or plant-based sources of Omega-3s—is of particular benefit to the circulatory system. The consumption of seal oil, and specifically the DPA in seal oil, has been linked to the historically low levels of cholesterol and heart disease among Inuk populations.

Long-term inflammation is a contributor to many chronic conditions, including psoriasis, arthritis, and joint pain; seal oil supplements can help soothe symptoms and improve overall joint health. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the body’s production of molecules linked to inflammation, such as inflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines. Skulas-Ray et al. RedBlood Cell Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA n-3) is Inversely Associated with Triglycerides and C-reactive Protein (CRP) in Healthy Adults and Dose-DependentlyIncreasesFollowingn-3 FattyAcid Supplementation. Nutrients 2015; 7:6390-404.

Omega-3s reduce inflammation caused by arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, improve mobility, and reduce joint pain. As stated in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Kremer JM. n-3 fatty acid supplements in rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jan;71(1 Suppl):349S-51S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/71.1.349s. PMID: 10617995., dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids have been consistently shown to reduce the number of tender joints, and the amount of morning stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These effects are attributed to the ability of omega-3s to significantly reduce the production of mediators of inflammation including leukotriene B(4) and interleukin 1.

A number of clinical trials have contributed to this conclusion, including Volker et al. (2000) Volker D, Fitzgerald P, Major G, Garg M. Efficacy of fish oil concentrate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2000 Oct;27(10):2343-6. PMID: 11036827.. The researchers demonstrated a >20% improvement in a statistically significant number of rheumatoid arthritis patients during a 15-week trial of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. The researchers suggest the supplements contributed to a substantial cellular incorporation of key fatty acids, and improved clinical status for participants.

Once again, the composition of seal oil supplements make them the ideal source of omega-3s for joint health: DPA has been found to be 10 times more effective than EPA in repairing damaged blood vessels and reducing inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. ToshieKanayasu-Toyoda, et al. Docosapentaenoicacid(22:5, n-3), an elongationmetaboliteof eicosapentaenoicacid(20:5, n-3), is a potent stimulator of endothelial cell migration on pretreatment in vitro, 1996.

Omega-3s boost central nervous system and brain function, can improve memory and other cognitive abilities, and can help regulate and stabilize moods and reduce anxiety and the effects of stress.

As mentioned above, DPA, found in seal oil, has also been shown to raise the levels of DHA  and EPA in humans. Increased DHA levels are particularly relevant in discussions of brain health, as DHA is quantitatively the most important omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in the brain, and has been shown to play key roles in the neuronal membrane. Deficits in DHA and EPA levels have also been connected with neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s. Dyall SC. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the brain: a review of the independent and shared effects of EPA, DPA and DHA. Front Aging Neurosci. 2015;7:52. Published 2015 Apr 21. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2015.00052

A 2020 Harvard Health article suggests the anti-inflammatory abilities of DHA and EPA, as well as the ability of those omega-3s to travel through brain cell membranes and interact with mood-related molecules, may help relieve depression and other mood disorders.

A growing body of research indicates the omega-3s in seal oil also boosts immune function, vision health, and may have a role to play in the prevention of some chronic diseases. Fish oil offers some of these benefits, but it is less easily assimilated by the human body, lacks DPA, and has other shortcomings.

Pregnant and nursing mothers take seal oil to support the development of the baby’s brain, eyes, and nerves. A 2003 studyHelland, Ingrid B et al. “Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children’s IQ at 4 years of age.” Pediatrics vol. 111,1 (2003): e39-44. doi:10.1542/peds.111.1.e39 showed, for example, that regular omega-3 supplementation by pregnant and lactating mothers appeared to boost the child’s IQ at age 4.

Babies of mothers who regularly consume seal oil also show better immune function. Dunstan et al. (2003)Dunstan, Janet A et al. “Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy modifies neonatal allergen-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes in infants at high risk of atopy: a randomized, controlled trial.” The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology vol. 112,6 (2003): 1178-84. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2003.09.009 indicated that maternal omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy resulted in lower allergen responses, indicating a strengthened immune system.

And supplements may benefit new mothers in another way: omega-3 fatty acid can help reduce the symptoms of postpartum depression.da Rocha, Camilla M M, and Gilberto Kac. “High dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated acids during pregnancy and prevalence of post-partum depression.” Maternal & child nutrition vol. 8,1 (2012): 36-48. doi:10.1111/j.1740-8709.2010.00256.x

And more…

Visit our growing list of seal-oil and omega-3 related scientific studies for further information.