Perilla oil versus fish oil and flaxseed oil plus fish oil,
does it really help with Lower triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes versus fish oil and flaxseed-oil plus fish-oil comparators?
research showsThe grade is D with 30 points. A six-month trial randomized 180 people to perilla oil, fish oil, or flaxseed oil plus fish oil and analyzed 150 completers: 50, 52, and 48, respectively. Triglycerides fell with fish oil but not significantly with perilla oil. The direct comparison did not support lower triglycerides with perilla oil versus the fish-oil and flaxseed-oil plus fish-oil comparators.
ads claimHigh plant omega-3 content is real, but it is not the same as directly consuming EPA and DHA. Verdict 1047 is D with 28 points for omega-3 and incident type 2 diabetes; this verdict addresses perilla-oil capsules and triglycerides instead.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Measured fatty acids in the trial capsules were 63.4% alpha-linolenic, 14.0% linoleic, 13.7% oleic, 5.6% palmitic, and 2.29% stearic acid, giving an omega-6:omega-3 ratio of about 0.22:1.
- Adult isotope studies place conversion of alpha-linolenic acid to EPA in men at roughly 0.2% to 8%, while DHA conversion is very low or nearly undetectable; conversion may be higher in women. Three grams of perilla oil is therefore not equivalent to 3 g of fish oil in EPA and DHA content.
- This was a capsule trial, not substitution of perilla oil for another culinary oil. Smoke point was not measured for the trial product and is unrelated to the triglyceride outcome.
What the research actually shows
Liu and colleagues randomized 180 people with type 2 diabetes, 60 each to perilla oil, fish oil, or flaxseed-oil plus fish-oil capsules at 3 g daily. The six-month analysis used 150 completers: 50, 52, and 48, respectively. ChiCTR-IOR-16008435 lists triglycerides as a primary indicator, and the sample-size calculation used expected triglyceride reductions for all three groups. Two National Natural Science Foundation of China grants funded the work; a company manufactured capsules, but no manufacturer research funding was disclosed.
Why this is classified as D (30)
A publicly funded randomized trial did not establish triglyceride reduction with perilla oil, but it was one trial without a verified precise between-group interval, giving D with 30 points.
Counterpoint. The result does not refute every dose, duration, or culinary substitution. Replacing another table oil with perilla oil requires a separate trial.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — Checked randomized and completer counts, sample-size assumptions, measured capsule fatty acids, triglyceride conclusions, and public funding in the original report
| Endpoint | S | Surrogate marker - laboratory or imaging measures |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I2 | Decisive evidence is publicly or non-profit funded |
| Effect size | E0 | Null |
| Precision | CX | No pooled confidence interval could be confirmed |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (D).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Perilla oil at 3 g daily lowers triglycerides | D | The six-month direct trial found no significant triglyceride reduction with perilla oil. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | Randomized double-blind three-arm parallel capsule trial | 48 | National Natural Science Foundation of China grants 81872618 and 81573144 | Six-month serum triglycerides, listed as a registry primary indicator, and glycolipid metabolism | Triglycerides fell with fish oil but not significantly with perilla oil; a precise perilla between-group CI was not verified in accessible material | Direct null evidence |
Receipt — 2 References
All 2 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-08-03).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-03 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Perilla oil versus fish oil and flaxseed oil plus fish oil x lower triglycerides in type 2 diabetes — Evidence Grade D·30. 2 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/heart/perilla-oil-lower-triglycerides-type-2-diabetes/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.