Wheat germ oil

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Wheat germ oil is extracted from the germ of the wheat kernel, which makes up only 2½% by weight of the kernel. Wheat germ oil is particularly high in octacosanol^{[citation needed]} - 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.^[1] Very long chain fatty alcohols obtained from plant waxes and beeswax have been reported to lower plasma cholesterol in humans.^[2] Wheat germ oil is also very high in Vitamin E and has the highest content of Vitamin E of any food that has not undergone prior preparation or vitamin fortification.^[3] As a cooking oil, wheat germ oil is strongly flavored, expensive and easily perishable.^[4] Wheat germ oil contains the following fatty acids:^[5]

Component	g/100g
Linoleic acid (omega-6)	55
Palmitic acid	16
Oleic acid	14
Linolenic acid (omega-3)	7

References

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