Safflower Oil

    Written by:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: August 28, 2025

    Safflower Oil is a cooking oil that is found in two main forms; high (up to 75%) linoleic (omega-6 fatty acid) and high (up to 75%) oleic, the main fatty acid in Olive Oil, with about 7% saturated fat content.



    1.

    Controlled Trials

    1.1

    Various Health Effects

    A study without dietary controls conducted in post-menopausal and diabetic women comparing the effects of Safflower Oil (8g daily) against Conjugated Linoleic Acid at 8g found that safflower oil was associated with a higher blood level of CLA isomers at 4 weeks of treatment and was able to reduce some signs of diabetes minimally at 12 weeks, when compared to CLA.[4] Both treatments showed minor shifts towards a better body composition, with 1kg of lean mass replacing 1kg of lost body fat (rough values) after 12 weeks of supplementation.[4][5]

    Anti-inflammatory properties have also been attributed to Safflower Oil,[6] but at least one commentor[7] has suggested this may just be due to the Vitamin E content of Safflower Oil, as the mechanisms observed (downregulation of ICAM-1, a cellular adhesion molecule) is shared with Vitamin E.

    Safflower oil might exert protective effects on the body, particularly in obese diabetics; however, these effects seem to take a long time to occur, and may not occur with isolated Conjugated Linoleic Acid supplementation

    1.2

    Weight

    The same research group also assessed changes in weight,[5] and found that, in regards to total fat mass, that Conjugated Linoleic Acid was effective over 16 weeks (−1076 ± 849g of fat) whereas Safflower Oil led to a non-significant increase (80 ± 667g of fat) which resulted in differences in end weight; CLA significantly reducing overall weight by 1.25 ± 0.71kg and Safflower Oil insignificantly reducing weight by 0.11 ± 0.55kg. When only assessing only trunk adiposity by DEXA, it was found that Conjugated Linoleic acid caused a significant increase (1075 ± 1184g) whereas Safflower Oil caused a selective decrease (−1203 ± 852g) as well as CLA reducing overall lean mass (−412 ± 756g) and Safflower Oil increasing lean mass (1402 ± 594g).[5]

    Many other studies conducted on Conjugated Linoleic Acid use Safflower Oil as a control, and frequently note no significant effects on measured parameters such as weight of fat mass in the range of 3-6g daily, in time spans ranging from 4 weeks to 6 months.[8]

    The effects seem to be present, with a slightly beneficial shift of fat mass away from the trunk despite not actually burning it. These may be secondary to changes in glycemic control, and more studies should be done before Safflower Oil is considered a fat burner

    References

    1. ^Zhang HL, Nagatsu A, Watanabe T, Sakakibara J, Okuyama HAntioxidative compounds isolated from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil cakeChem Pharm Bull (Tokyo).(1997 Dec)
    2. ^Nutrient data for 04511, Oil, safflower, salad or cooking, high oleic (primary safflower oil of commerce)
    3. ^Nutrient data for 04510, Oil, safflower, salad or cooking, linoleic, (over 70%)
    4. ^Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang SY, Hsu JC, Belury MATime-dependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese, post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, crossover studyClin Nutr.(2011 Aug)
    5. ^Norris LE, Collene AL, Asp ML, Hsu JC, Liu LF, Richardson JR, Li D, Bell D, Osei K, Jackson RD, Belury MAComparison of dietary conjugated linoleic acid with safflower oil on body composition in obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitusAm J Clin Nutr.(2009 Sep)
    6. ^Nicholls SJ, Lundman P, Harmer JA, Cutri B, Griffiths KA, Rye KA, Barter PJ, Celermajer DSConsumption of saturated fat impairs the anti-inflammatory properties of high-density lipoproteins and endothelial functionJ Am Coll Cardiol.(2006 Aug 15)
    7. ^Masterjohn CThe anti-inflammatory properties of safflower oil and coconut oil may be mediated by their respective concentrations of vitamin EJ Am Coll Cardiol.(2007 May 1)
    8. ^Pfeuffer M, Fielitz K, Laue C, Winkler P, Rubin D, Helwig U, Giller K, Kammann J, Schwedhelm E, Böger RH, Bub A, Bell D, Schrezenmeir JCLA does not impair endothelial function and decreases body weight as compared with safflower oil in overweight and obese male subjectsJ Am Coll Nutr.(2011 Feb)