Hemp seed oil: A source of valuable essential fatty acids

Deferne, J.L. and D. W. Pate, 1996. Hemp seed oil: A source of valuable essential fatty acids. Journal of the International Hemp Association 3(1): 1, 4-7. Interest in Cannabis has largely focused on its content of psychoactive substances (cannabinoids) or its potential industrial use as a source of cellulose fibre. While the whole seed has long been used as a source of food, its potential health contribution has never gained much attention. Hemp seed shares with no other plant resource, both a high content of easily digestible complete protein and a rich endowment of oil providing a favorable ratio of the linoleic (C18:2w6) and linolenic (C18:3w3) essential fatty acids required for proper human nutrition, in addition to a significant contribution of gamma-linolenic (C18:3w6) acid of potential therapeutic efficacy. With a recently acquired knowledge concerning the importance of these fatty acids in the human diet, it is time to both intensify research on their variable occurence among varieties of hemp seed, and investigate methods of oil extraction and storage suitable for their preservation.