Wheat germ oil is extracted from the
germ of the
wheat kernel, which makes up only 2.5 y weight of the
kernel Wheat germ oil is particularly high in
octacosanol - a 28-carbon long-chain saturated primary alcohol found in a number of different vegetable waxes. Octacosanol has been studied as an exercise- and physical performance-enhancing agent. Very long chain
fatty alcohols obtained from plant waxes and beeswax have been reported to lower plasma
cholesterol in humans. Wheat germ oil is also very high in
vitamin E (255 mg/100g), and has the highest content of vitamin E of any food that has not undergone prior preparation or vitamin fortification. As a cooking oil, wheat germ oil is strongly flavored, expensive and easily perishable. Wheat germ oil contains the following
fatty acids:
Other uses of wheat germ oil have also been explored, including increasing
blood flow and
reaction time. Further uses include treatment of certain skin conditions such as
scarring and
inflammation.