Research suggests that flaxseed oil, as a source of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, may support skin health by favorably shifting the fatty acid composition of skin tissue, including increasing omega-3 levels and reducing the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. The available evidence here comes from a single controlled animal study conducted in horses, which found that flaxseed oil supplementation over 16 weeks was associated with these changes in skin fatty acid profiles alongside modest effects on immune and inflammatory markers. While the direction of findings is generally supportive, it is important to note that this research was conducted in horses rather than humans, limiting how directly the results can be applied to human skin health. More controlled human studies would be needed before drawing firm conclusions about flaxseed oil's role in supporting skin health in people.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of dietary camelina, flaxseed, and canola oil supplementation on s... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 100 |