Canola Oil Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Canola Oil interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Canola Oil is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Canola Oil is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy
Check Canola Oil against your medication
Add one medicationDrugs that interact with Canola Oil
0 medications have a known interaction with Canola Oil, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Canola Oil. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.
What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean
Severity — How Serious It Can Be
- Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
- Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
- Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
- No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.
Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented
- Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
- Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
- Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Where This Data Comes From
- Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
- Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Canola Oil combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Canola Oil: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Canola oil is a common cooking oil pressed from the seeds of the canola plant, a type of rapeseed bred to be low in erucic acid. It is low in saturated fat and contains heart-friendly unsaturated fats, and replacing saturated fats with it may support healthy cholesterol. For most people it is safe as a food, but it is not a proven treatment for any disease.
- Scientific name
- Brassica napus
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Part used
- Seeds (oil pressed from the seeds)
- Common forms
- Cooking oil, salad dressings, margarine, capsules (less common), and an ingredient in many processed foods
- Heart health and cholesterol support
- Cooking and food preparation
- Source of unsaturated fats and omega-3 (ALA)
- Skin moisturizing (topical, traditional)
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Canola oil is widely consumed as food and is generally considered safe in normal dietary amounts.
When used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of using canola oil in medi...
Read the full pregnancy detailWhen used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of using canola oil in medi...
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Canola oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the seeds of the canola plant, which is a type of rapeseed (Brassica napus) that was specially bred to be low in a substance called erucic acid. The name "canola" comes from "Canadian oil, low acid." It is grown widely in Canada, the northern United States, Europe, and Australia.
You will find canola oil in many kitchens and in countless packaged foods. It is popular because it has a mild, neutral flavor, a high smoke point for cooking, and a fat makeup that is low in saturated fat. It is most often used as a cooking and salad oil rather than as a traditional herbal remedy.
How it works
Canola oil is rich in monounsaturated fat (mostly oleic acid) and contains polyunsaturated fats, including the omega-3 fatty acid ALA and the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid. It is also low in saturated fat compared with many other fats.
The proposed benefit comes mainly from replacing saturated fats in the diet. Diets higher in unsaturated fats and lower in saturated fats are linked with more favorable cholesterol levels. Canola oil also contains small amounts of vitamin E and plant compounds that act as antioxidants. Much of the detailed research is based on general fatty-acid science and population studies rather than studies of canola oil alone.
Does Canola Oil work?
How to read these evidence grades
Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.
Possibly Effective Coronary heart disease (CHD)
One preliminary clinical study shows that including canola oil, high oleic acid canola oil, or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched canola oil 60 grams per 3000 kcal of energy daily as part of a fixed composition diet for 4 weeks can reduce Framingham 10-year coronary heart disease risk scores by 8.2%, 19%, and 6.8% compared to baseline in patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Other preliminary research in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that eating a canola oil-enriched bread supplement as part of a low glycemic load diet as an adjunct to oral hypoglycemic agents for 3 months reduces the Framingham risk score for CVD by 0.6% compared to eating a wheat fiber bread as part of a whole-grain diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows for a qualified health claim that replacing dietary fats and oils higher in saturated fat with canola oil, which contains less saturated fat, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. To achieve this benefit, canola oil or other oleic-acid containing oils should not increase total daily energy intake. The suggested daily dietary intake is about 20 grams (1.5 tbsp) of canola oil in place of other fats and oils.
Possibly Ineffective Obesity
Although taking canola oil may modestly reduce body weight in obese patients by about 0.3 kg when compared with taking control fats, the benefit is probably not clinically significant. Taking canola oil does not appear to improve body composition or reduce body mass index (BMI).
Also studied for 5 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Diabetes
Preliminary clinical research in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that eating a canola oil-enriched bread supplement as part of a low glycemic load diet as an adjunct to oral hypoglycemic agents for 3 months reduces HbA1c by 0.47% compared with a reduction of 0.31% following intake of a wheat fiber bread as part of a whole-grain diet. Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were also reduced in those taking canola oil. Other preliminary research in mainly postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes shows that taking canola oil 30 grams daily for 8 weeks reduces levels of LDL cholesterol by a small amount, as well as levels of C-reactive protein, when compared to a sunflower oil control. However, it is less effective than rice bran oil for LDL cholesterol reduction, and there is no benefit to glycemic measures.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Familial hypercholesterolemia
A small clinical trial shows that using canola oil in place of all visible fat, at levels of 14-27 grams daily as part of a low-fat diet, for 13 weeks reduces levels of LDL cholesterol by 12.7% compared with baseline in children 6 years and up with familiar hypercholesterolemia. However, canola oil is no more effective than the same amount of sunflower oil.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Hypertension
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched canola oil for 4 weeks reduces systolic blood pressure by 3.3% and diastolic blood pressure by 4.1% compared to baseline in men and women with central obesity and at least one other cardiovascular disease risk factor. However, conventional canola oil and high oleic acid canola oil did not reduce blood pressure, suggesting that the benefit may relate to DHA content.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Metabolic syndrome
Preliminary clinical research shows that using canola oil (Virgino, Kankaisten Öljykasvit Ltd) 35 mL daily instead of butter 37.5 grams daily for 6-8 weeks reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 11% in males with metabolic syndrome. There were no differences in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose, or HbA1c.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Preliminary clinical research in men with NAFLD shows that cooking with canola oil (Hudson Canola Oil, Dalmia Continental Pvt. Ltd.) no more than 20 grams daily along with therapeutic lifestyle modifications for 6 months reduces the grading of fatty liver based on ultrasound imaging to normal liver grading in about 77% of patients compared with 10% of those cooking with soybean/safflower oil while following therapeutic lifestyle modifications.
Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.
Safety & precautions
Canola oil is considered safe for most people when used in normal amounts as part of a regular diet. Modern food-grade canola oil is low in erucic acid, which was a concern with older rapeseed oils.
People with a known allergy to canola or rapeseed should avoid it. Like all oils, it is high in calories, so large amounts can contribute to weight gain. Some canola oil is highly processed, and people who prefer minimally processed foods may choose cold-pressed or expeller-pressed versions.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Eating canola oil as a normal part of food is considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Concentrated supplement forms have not been well studied, so it is best to stick to food amounts and check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any supplement.
Side effects
When used as a food, canola oil rarely causes side effects. Eating very large amounts of any oil can cause loose stools, stomach upset, or unwanted weight gain because of its high calorie content.
Allergic reactions are uncommon but possible in people sensitive to plants in the mustard/rapeseed family. Stop using it and seek medical care if you notice rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.
Dosing
There is no official medicinal dose for canola oil. As a food, it is simply used in cooking, baking, and salad dressings in normal recipe amounts. Dietary guidelines generally suggest using oils in moderation as part of a balanced diet and keeping total fat within your daily calorie needs.
If you use a canola oil supplement (less common), follow the directions on the product label and ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it is appropriate for you. More is not better, since extra oil mainly adds calories.
Canola Oil & Pregnancy
Canola Oil & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 16 references that drive our Canola Oil monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Crawford M, Galli C, Visioli F, et al. Role of Plant-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition. Ann Nutr Metab 2000;44:263-5. PubMed
- Connor WE. Alpha-linolenic acid in health and disease. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69:827-8. PubMed
- Gibson RA, Makrides M. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid requirements of term infants. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:251S-5S. PubMed
- Jones PJ, Senanayake VK, Pu S, Jenkins DJ, Connelly PW, Lamarche B, Couture P, Charest A, Baril-Gravel L, West SG, Liu X, Fleming JA, McCrea CE, Kris-Etherton PM. DHA-enriched high-oleic acid canola oil improves lipid profile and lowers predicted cardiova
- https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/. Accessed January 25, 2019.
- FDA completes review of qualified health claim petition for oleic acid and the risk of coronary heart disease. November 2018. Available at: www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm624758.htm. Accessed January 25, 2019.
- Liu X, Kris-Etherton PM, West SG, et al. Effects of canola and high-oleic-acid canola oils on abdominal fat mass in individuals with central obesity. Obesity. 2016;24(11):2261-2268. PubMed
- Kruse M, von Loeffelholz C, Hoffmann D, et al. Dietary rapeseed/canola-oil supplementation reduces serum lipids and liver enzymes and alters postprandial inflammatory responses in adipose tissue compared to olive-oil supplementation in obese men. Mol Nutr PubMed
- Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Vuksan V, et al. Effect of lowering the glycemic load with canola oil on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(7):1806-14. PubMed
- Nigam P, Bhatt S, Misra A, et al. Effect of a 6-month intervention with cooking oils containing a high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (olive and canola oils) compared with control oil in male Asian Indians with nonalcoholic fatty liver disea
- Palomäki A, Pohjantähti-Maaroos H, Wallenius M, et al. Effects of dietary cold-pressed turnip rapeseed oil and butter on serum lipids, oxidized LDL and arterial elasticity in men with metabolic syndrome. Lipids Health Dis. 2010;9:137. PubMed
- Francois CA, Connor SL, Wander RC, Connor WE. Acute effects of dietary fatty acids on the fatty acids of human milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67(2):301-8. PubMed
- Salar A, Faghih S, Pishdad GR. Rice bran oil and canola oil improve blood lipids compared to sunflower oil in women with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, single-blind, controlled trial. J Clin Lipidol. 2016;10(2):299-305. PubMed
- Negele L, Schneider B, Ristl R, et al. Effect of a low-fat diet enriched either with rapeseed oil or sunflower oil on plasma lipoproteins in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Results of a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015;69(3 PubMed
- Atefi M, Pishdad GR, Faghih S. The effects of canola and olive oils on insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized and controlled trial. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2018;17(2):85-91. PubMed
- Raeisi-Dehkordi H, Amiri M, Humphries KH, Salehi-Abargouei A. The effect of canola oil on body weight and composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Adv Nutr. 2019;10(3):419-432. PubMed
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Brands that make products with Canola Oil
111 brands in our database make a supplement containing Canola Oil.
Supplement products with Canola Oil
316 products in our database contain Canola Oil. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.
Canola Oil: Common Questions
What is Canola Oil used for, and does it work?
Does Canola Oil interact with prescription medications?
How are Canola Oil interactions rated?
Is it safe to take Canola Oil with my medications?
Where does this Canola Oil interaction information come from?
Is canola oil healthy?
Is canola oil the same as rapeseed oil?
Can I take canola oil for its omega-3s?
Is canola oil safe during pregnancy?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Products that contain Canola Oil
A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Canola Oil — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.
- Fresh Omega Extra Virgin Norwegian Salmon Oil by MRM
- High Potency Soft Multiple by KAL
- Multi High Potency by Swanson
- Gummies by NaturesPlus Animal Parade
- Monster Milk Banana Creme by CytoSport
- Weedos by Blaze
- Monster Milk Banana by CytoSport Monster Series
- Lean1 Fat-Burning Protein Shake Birthday Cake by N53
- Patriot's Whey Chubby Choco Nutz by 'Merica Labz
- Nutritional Oils by Altrum
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