We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we'll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies

Sbk4.8

Sea Buckthorn Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalHigh safety

6 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most Sea Buckthorn studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2010–2022 with a typical study size of 100 participants.

Based on 6 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 4 RCTs · 274 total participants

Confidence

Moderate

By outcome

Vision & eye healthReduced dry-eye symptoms and tear-film osmolarity in RCTs · 1-3 months
Too few graded studies2 studies
Skin healthSupports skin/mucosal integrity (omega-7); vaginal-atrophy benefit in one RCT · 1-3 months
Too few graded studies2 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Too few graded studies2 studies
Women's health
Too few graded studies1 study
Cholesterol & lipidsImproves blood lipids — but only in people with existing dyslipidemia · 8-12 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study

Steady research

1 study in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2022

201020162022

1Meta-Analysis2022

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 RCTs found sea buckthorn improved blood lipids (TG, total/LDL cholesterol, HDL) — but ONLY in people with abnormal lipids — and had no effect on blood sugar, blood pressure, or BMI.

Geng Y et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2022)

Improved lipids (TG, TC, LDL down
Lipid benefit only in those with dyslipidemia
NO effect on glucose, blood pressure, or BMI

View source

2Systematic Review2012

A Cochrane review of dietary supplements for atopic eczema examined sea buckthorn among others and found weak overall evidence.

Bath-Hextall FJ et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2012)

Sea buckthorn among supplements reviewed for eczema
Overall evidence weak/insufficient
Tempers strong skin claims

View source

3RCTn=116 · medium study2014

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found oral sea buckthorn oil improved vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.

Larmo PS et al. · Maturitas (2014)

Improved vaginal epithelial integrity in postmenopausal women
Oral sea buckthorn oil
Mucosal/skin benefit from omega-7 fatty acids

View source

4RCTn=100 · medium study2010

A randomized trial found oral sea buckthorn oil attenuated tear-film osmolarity and dry-eye symptoms.

Larmo PS et al. · The Journal of nutrition (2010)

Reduced tear-film osmolarity and dry-eye symptoms
Oral oil over the dry season
Supports a dry-eye benefit

View source

5RCTn=40 · small study2019

A randomized trial found a sea buckthorn oil spray emulsion helped dry-eye symptoms.

Larmo P et al. · Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association (2019)

Improved dry-eye symptoms with a topical spray
Reinforces the dry-eye signal

View source

6Crossovern=18 · very small study2018

A randomized crossover study found sea buckthorn decreased and delayed the insulin response after a sucrose-containing meal in overweight/obese men.

Mortensen MW et al. · European journal of nutrition (2018)

Lowered and delayed post-meal insulin response
Improved short-term glycemic profile
Single-meal crossover (not long-term)

View source

View in Research Library

Sea Buckthorn Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on factors related to metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial.

Dietary supplements for established atopic eczema.

Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Oral sea buckthorn oil attenuates tear film osmolarity and symptoms in individuals with dry eye.

Effects of a sea buckthorn oil spray emulsion on dry eye.

Sea buckthorn decreases and delays insulin response and improves glycaemic profile following a sucrose-containing berry meal: a randomised, controlled, crossover study of Danish sea buckthorn and strawberries in overweight and obese male subjects.