Mustard oil is a kind of vegetable oil extracted from European rape. Its erucic acid content is different from that of rapeseed oil. It is lower than that of rapeseed oil. Mustard oil is also one of the sources of biodiesel. At present, mustard oil is the main edible oil in many countries. Its market share in Canada is as high as 64%, Japan is 47%, and Australia is 35%. Both of them rank first.
Although it is one of the most widely used oils in the food industry, people still worry about the safety of mustard oil. This concern stems partly from the extensive processing required to extract the oil and partly from the fact that the hydrogenation of the oil increases the amount of trans fats in the final product. So is mustard oil safe?
Scientific research
Although common in shopping carts, little work has been done on the effects of mustard oil on the human body. The mustard oil industry usually hi sponsors research on it as a human edible oil, so it needs to be more cautious in interpreting the results. However, there have been many studies on animals and a few studies on humans, which may indicate that there may be negative effects on health.
Many studies have linked mustard oil with increased oxidative stress and inflammation in animals. In rats fed a diet that included mustard oil, levels of antioxidants were found to be low, while levels of "bad" cholesterol were found to be increased. However, as with all animal based studies, caution should be exercised in over interpreting them, as the effects on humans may be different.
Cardiovascular health
Mustard oil was once considered a heart healthy choice, but recent studies are beginning to show that this may not be the case. Previously, vegetable based saturated fat substitutes were considered healthier. However, saturated fat is no longer considered a problem. A research article in the 2018 Journal of nutrition showed that the conversion from animal based fat to plant-based fat had little or no impact on heart health.
Memory
A human study comparing the effects of a diet containing refined oils such as mustard oil with extra virgin olive oil showed that the olive oil group had significant brain function benefits. Although this is more like highlighting the benefits of olive oil than the disadvantages of mustard oil, it suggests that there may be healthier alternatives.
Current research suggests that the use of canola oil may have harmful effects, although nothing is conclusive. However, it is worth noting that a considerable part of the studies indicating negative effects are compared with extra virgin olive oil, which is one of the most widely studied oils at present. With this in mind, extra virgin olive oil seems wise and should always be the first choice if possible.