Wheat Germ Oil Capsules: Benefits, Uses & Health Advantages

Wheat germ oil is derived from the wheat germ, a germinating portion of the wheat kernel. It is the best known source of vitamin E, and can be consumed as a nutritional supplement in capsule form, or as oil sprinkled over salads, vegetables, pasta and other foods. Wheat germ oil is nutrient-rich, and contains several other vitamins, minerals, protein and essential fatty acids like linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic, which are powerful antioxidants that combat free radicals and offer health benefits across cardiovascular health, skin care and fertility treatments.

Cardiovascular Health

• Observational studies conducted by scientists at the University of Minnestota School of Public Health, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicate that increased consumption of vitamin E decreases the risk of heart attacks or death from cardiovascular related diseases in both women and men. Wheat germ oil capsules contain octacosanol and policosanol, long-chain waxy alcohols that are similar to statin drugs in their ability to reduce blood levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol. A similar 1998 research study conducted by the Clinical Research Center in Cuba and published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, discovered that policosanol therapy over the long term improved treadmill exercise-electrocardiogram testing performance of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Skin Care

• The high levels of vitamin E, A, B, C and D in wheat germ oil help promote skin cell formation and rejuvenates dry, mature and dehydrated skin. Wheat germ oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, and is used in a variety of cosmetic preparations and massage oils, as well as ingested internally in capsule form. Wheat germ oil nourishes dry skin and reduces scars, stretch marks, sunburn, and rejuvenates damaged skin by regenerating the skin tissue.

Fertility Treatment

• The vitamin E in wheat germ oil aids in conception and helps to increase the success rate of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. The Fertility Factor website recommends that you consume one tbsp. of wheat germ oil daily if you are trying to conceive.