Omega-7 are a lesser-known category of unsaturated fatty acids compared to omega-3 and omega-6, but they offer significant benefits for skin health and overall well-being. The most important omega-7 fatty acid is palmitoleic acid, which is found in natural sources such as sea buckthorn oil, macadamia oil, and fish oil. These fatty acids are known for their regenerative, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory properties. In cosmetics, omega-7s help maintain skin elasticity, support cell regeneration, and protect the skin barrier.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Omega-7s are monounsaturated fatty acids with a double bond located on the seventh carbon atom from the end of the chain. Palmitoleic acid is the main component of this class and is structurally similar to fatty acids naturally found in human sebum, making it highly compatible with the skin. This chemical characteristic gives palmitoleic acid unique protective and regenerative properties, helping maintain the skin's integrity and elasticity.

Physical Properties

Omega-7s are light oils, pale yellow or golden in color, with a silky texture. They are oil-soluble and easily incorporated into cosmetic formulations such as creams, serums, lotions, and skin oils. Due to their ability to penetrate the skin quickly without leaving a greasy residue, omega-7s are often used in anti-aging and regenerative products.

Production Process

Omega-7s are extracted from natural sources like sea buckthorn oil and macadamia oil through cold pressing or supercritical CO₂ extraction techniques. These methods preserve the integrity of the fatty acids, ensuring their biological properties remain intact. After extraction, omega-7s are refined and stabilized for use in cosmetic products and dietary supplements. 

• Selection of Raw Materials: Omega-7s are primarily extracted from plant sources such as sea buckthorn oil and palm oil. These sources are selected for their high content of palmitoleic acid, the most common Omega-7 fatty acid.

• Extraction: The extraction of Omega-7s occurs through appropriate methods, such as cold pressing or solvent extraction. In cold pressing, the fruits or seeds are mechanically pressed to obtain the oil, while in solvent extraction, the plant materials are immersed in a solvent to dissolve the oils.

• Filtration: After extraction, the obtained oils are filtered to remove undissolved solids and impurities, resulting in pure, high-quality oils.

• Refining: The extracted oil may be refined to remove further impurities and improve the flavor and appearance of the final product. This process may include deodorization and bleaching.

• Concentration: Omega-7s may be concentrated using techniques such as distillation or chromatography to increase the concentration of palmitoleic acid and enhance the effectiveness of the final product.

• Quality Control and Packaging: Finally, Omega-7s undergo quality control checks to verify their purity, efficacy, and compliance with standards. After analysis, they are packaged in appropriate containers for distribution and use in cosmetic products and dietary supplements.

Health and Safety Considerations

Safety in Use
Omega-7s are considered safe for use in cosmetics and dietary supplements. They are well tolerated by the skin and generally do not cause irritation or allergic reactions. Major regulatory authorities, such as the European Union and the FDA, approve their use in skincare products.

Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to omega-7s are rare. However, it is always advisable to perform a patch test before use, especially on sensitive skin or if there are known allergies to plant oils or fish, as some omega-7s are derived from these sources.

Toxicity and Carcinogenicity
They are known for their beneficial effects, particularly for their potential role in enhancing skin regeneration and combating inflammation.

Environmental Considerations
Omega-7s are primarily sourced from natural and renewable resources such as sea buckthorn and macadamia oil. Extraction techniques like cold pressing or CO2 extraction are environmentally friendly, making omega-7s an eco-compatible and sustainable ingredient.

Regulatory Status
Omega-7s are approved for use in cosmetic products by major regulatory authorities, such as the European Union and the FDA in the United States. They are primarily used in skincare formulations, especially in anti-aging and regenerative products.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Sung HK, Kim TJ, Kim HM, Youn SJ, Choi Y, Lee NY, Oh HJ, Kwon HS, Shin SM. Anti-Wrinkle and Skin Moisture Efficacy of 7-MEGATM: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Comparative Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2024 Jan 9;16(2):212. doi: 10.3390/nu16020212.

Abstract. 7-MEGA™ is a food product made from purified Alaska pollack fish oil containing palmitoleic acid (16:1), commonly referred to as omega-7. We sought to quantitatively evaluate whether this substance inhibits skin aging. A total of 101 middle-aged females were randomly allocated to the intervention (N = 50) or placebo group (N = 51). Each participant was advised to take either 500 mg of 7-MEGA™ or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were the degree of improvement in wrinkles and the degree of moisture filling after consumption for 12 weeks compared to baseline. The secondary outcomes were improvement in skin wrinkles; moisture changes at 4 and 8 weeks from baseline; changes in transdermal water loss, skin elasticity, the melanin index, the erythema index, and the Global Photo Damage Score. We found a significant improvement in skin wrinkles and elasticity at 12 weeks in the 7-MEGA™-consuming group compared to that in the placebo group; skin moisture, elasticity, and the melanin index were also improved. No supplement-related adverse reactions were observed and 7-MEGA™ was identified as safe. 7-MEGA™ was effective for human skin function in terms of wrinkles, moisture, elasticity, and melanin production and may be useful as a skin nutritional supplement.

Tokunaga Y, Yoshizaki H, Toriumi A, Kawaharada R, Ishida C, Hori M, Nakamura A. Effects of omega-7 palmitoleic acids on skeletal muscle differentiation in a hyperglycemic condition. J Vet Med Sci. 2021 Sep 3;83(9):1369-1377. doi: 10.1292/jvms.21-0309. 

Abstract. Maternal obesity and diabetes are known to be involved in fetal myogenesis, but the later stages of myogenesis are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the influence of a hyperglycemic environment on L6 skeletal myoblast differentiation and the function of omega-7 palmitoleic acids. Exposure to a high concentration of glucose (25 mM) in high-glucose culture medium (HG) increased the expression of myogenic genes (MyoD, Myogenin, MRF4, Myhc2x, and Myhc2a) and the synthesis of myosin. HG also activated the PI3K/AKT pathway revealed muscle cell differentiation. Furthermore, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an inflammatory cytokine (Tnfaip3; tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3), which are crucial for the growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle, were increased by HG. Palmitoleic acids suppressed the expression levels of myogenic regulatory genes and increased the expression level of a cell proliferation-related gene (Pax3). Trans-palmitoleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (TPA and EPA) increased the phosphorylation level of MAPK/ERK1/2 and downregulated ROS generation and Tnfaip3 expression. In contrast, cis-palmitoleic acid inactivated MAPK/ERK1/2, leading to increased ROS generation. In conclusion, a hyperglycemic environment mediated by HG induced excessive muscle differentiation. Palmitoleic acids inhibited myoblast differentiation by downregulating muscle-specific genes. Moreover, trans-palmitoleic acids may have beneficial antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory effects in cells.

Ngo Njembe MT, Pachikian B, Lobysheva I, Van Overstraeten N, Dejonghe L, Verstraelen E, Buchet M, Rasse C, Gardin C, Mignolet E, Balligand JL, Larondelle Y. A Three-Month Consumption of Eggs Enriched with ω-3, ω-5 and ω-7 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Significantly Decreases the Waist Circumference of Subjects at Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 18;13(2):663. doi: 10.3390/nu13020663. 

Abstract Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), rumenic acid (RmA), and punicic acid (PunA) are claimed to influence several physiological functions including insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and inflammatory processes. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, we investigated the combined effect of ALA, DHA, RmA and PunA on subjects at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Twenty-four women and men were randomly assigned to two groups. Each day, they consumed two eggs enriched with oleic acid (control group) or enriched with ALA, DHA, RmA, and PunA (test group) for 3 months. The waist circumference decreased significantly (-3.17 cm; p < 0.001) in the test group. There were no major changes in plasma insulin and blood glucose in the two groups. The dietary treatments had no significant effect on endothelial function as measured by peripheral arterial tonometry, although erythrocyte nitrosylated hemoglobin concentrations tended to decrease. The high consumption of eggs induced significant elevations in plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (p < 0.001), which did not result in any change in the LDL/HDL ratio in both groups. These results indicate that consumption of eggs enriched with ALA, DHA, RmA and PunA resulted in favorable changes in abdominal obesity without affecting other factors of the metabolic syndrome.

Chen Y, Mai Q, Chen Z, Lin T, Cai Y, Han J, Wang Y, Zhang M, Tan S, Wu Z, Chen L, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Cui T, Ouyang B, Sun Y, Yang L, Xu L, Zhang S, Li J, Shen H, Liu L, Zeng L, Zhang S, Zeng G. Dietary palmitoleic acid reprograms gut microbiota and improves biological therapy against colitis. Gut Microbes. 2023 Jan-Dec;15(1):2211501. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2211501.

Abstract. Magnitude and diversity of gut microbiota and metabolic systems are critical in shaping human health and diseases, but it remains largely unclear how complex metabolites may selectively regulate gut microbiota and determine health and diseases. Here, we show that failures or compromised effects of anti-TNF-α therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients were correlated with intestinal dysbacteriosis with more pro-inflammatory bacteria, extensive unresolved inflammation, failed mucosal repairment, and aberrant lipid metabolism, particularly lower levels of palmitoleic acid (POA). Dietary POA repaired gut mucosal barriers, reduced inflammatory cell infiltrations and expressions of TNF-α and IL-6, and improved efficacy of anti-TNF-α therapy in both acute and chronic IBD mouse models. Ex vivo treatment with POA in cultured inflamed colon tissues derived from Crohn's disease (CD) patients reduced pro-inflammatory signaling/cytokines and conferred appreciable tissue repairment. Mechanistically, POA significantly upregulated the transcriptional signatures of cell division and biosynthetic process of Akkermansia muciniphila, selectively increased the growth and abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila in gut microbiota, and further reprogrammed the composition and structures of gut microbiota. Oral transfer of such POA-reprogrammed, but not control, gut microbiota induced better protection against colitis in anti-TNF-α mAb-treated recipient mice, and co-administration of POA with Akkermansia muciniphila showed significant synergistic protections against colitis in mice. Collectively, this work not only reveals the critical importance of POA as a polyfunctional molecular force to shape the magnitude and diversity of gut microbiota and therefore promote the intestinal homeostasis, but also implicates a new potential therapeutic strategy against intestinal or abenteric inflammatory diseases.

Guo X, Jiang X, Chen K, Liang Q, Zhang S, Zheng J, Ma X, Jiang H, Wu H, Tong Q. The Role of Palmitoleic Acid in Regulating Hepatic Gluconeogenesis through SIRT3 in Obese Mice. Nutrients. 2022 Apr 1;14(7):1482. doi: 10.3390/nu14071482. 

Abstract. Hepatic gluconeogenesis is a crucial process to maintain glucose level during starvation. However, unabated glucose production in diabetic patients is a major contributor to hyperglycemia. Palmitoleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid (16:1n7) that is available from dietary sources. Palmitoleic acid exhibits health beneficial effects on diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. However, the mechanism by which palmitoleate reduces blood glucose is still unclear. SIRT3 is a key metabolism-regulating NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase. It is known that fasting elevates the expression of SIRT3 in the liver and it regulates many aspects of liver's response to nutrient deprivation, such as fatty acid oxidation and ketone body formation. However, it is unknown whether SIRT3 also regulates gluconeogenesis. Our study revealed that palmitoleic acid reduced hepatic gluconeogenesis and the expression of SIRT3 under high-fat diet conditions. Overexpression of SIRT3 in the liver and hepatocytes enhanced gluconeogenesis. Further study revealed that SIRT3 played a role in enhancing the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes, such as PEPCK, PC, and MDH2. Therefore, our study indicated that under a high-fat diet, palmitoleic acid decreased gluconeogenesis by reducing enzymatic activities of PEPCK, PC, and MDH2 by down-regulating the expression of SIRT3.