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Planta Med 2018; 84(09/10): 606-612
DOI: 10.1055/a-0586-4711
Reviews
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Therapeutic Perspectives on Chia Seed and Its Oil: A Review

John Parker
1   Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
,
Amanda N. Schellenberger
1   Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
,
Amy L. Roe
2   The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH
,
Hellen Oketch-Rabah
3   United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD
,
Angela I. Calderón
1   Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 18 September 2017
revised 23 February 2018

accepted 01 March 2018

Publication Date:
13 March 2018 (online)

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Abstract

The attraction of novel foods proceeds alongside epidemic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and related risk factors. Dieticians have identified chia (Salvia hispanica) as a product with a catalog of potential health benefits relating to these detriments. Chia is currently consumed not only as seeds, but also as oil, which brings about similar effects. Chia seeds and chia seed oil are used mainly as a food commodity and the oil is also used popularly as a dietary ingredient used in various dietary supplements available in the U. S. market. Chia seed is rich in α-linolenic acid, the biological precursor to eicosapentaenoic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. Because the body cannot synthesize α-linolenic acid, chia has a newfound and instrumental role in diet. However, the inconclusive nature of the scientific communityʼs understanding of its safety warrants further research and appropriate testing. The focus of this work is to summarize dietary health benefits of S. hispanica seed and oil to acknowledge concerns of adverse events from its ingestion, to assess current research in the field, and to highlight the importance of quality compendial standards to support safe use. To achieve this end, a large-scale literature search was partaken on the two well-known databases, PubMed and SciFinder. Hundreds of articles detailing such benefits as decreased blood glucose, decreased waist circumference and weight in overweight adults, and improvements in pruritic skin and endurance in distance runners have been recorded. These benefits must be considered within the appropriate circumstances.

Key words

chia seed - chia seed oil - Salvia hispanica - biological activity - α-linolenic acid - Lamiaceae
 

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