Update 8/7/20. Does Sea Buckthorn help weight loss? Could it be? At one time, this stuff rocketed to weight loss stardom after being featured on the Dr. Oz Show. I remember it like it was yesterday, with Dr. Oz showing the picture of the fat and skinny mice, telling us how sea buckthorn helped the skinny mouse stay skinny. But, that's a mouse. What about people? It's been some time since I reviewed this stuff and I thought it was worth a fresh look. So, can sea buckthorn help people lose weight – or do anything else? Let's look at the evidence and see if its right for you.
1 What Is Sea Buckthorn?
It's a plant that grows in various regions from China and Pakistan to Canada. Its scientific name is Hippophae rhamnoides. The fruit of the plant is rich in different vitamins and minerals and plant nutrients such as vitamin C, beta carotene, calcium, amino acids, flavonoids, and vitamin A.
2 Sea Buckthorn Benefits
The berries of the plant are said to provide the following benefits 
- Help people lose weight
- Prevent colds
- Help ulcers
- Help heart disease
- Help diabetes
- Help rejuvenate aging skin
- Help ease stress
- Help ulcers
- Help hair growth
Much of these benefits may be attributed to its fatty acids, especially omega, 3, 6, and omega 7 fatty acids. This sea vegetable has more omega 7 fatty acids than any other plant.
3 Types of Buckthorn
There are 4 main types of sea buckthorn. The types are:
- Sea Buckthorn (also called Hippophae rhamnoides). Some people write it as “C. Buckthorn”
- Alder Buckthorn (also called Frangula alnus or Rhamnus frangula)
- Buckthorn (also called Cascara or Frangula purshiana or Rhamnus purshiana)
- European Buckthorn (also called Rhamnus cathartica)
Alder Buckthorn, Cascara, and European Buckthorn are typically used as laxatives. Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C, omega 3,7 and 7 fatty acids and phytonutrients. As such, it is also an antioxidant food. This is why it may be found in some cosmetics.
4 Sea Buckthorn And Weight Loss
So, what's the proof this stuff helps people lose weight? When it was featured on the Dr. Oz show (back in 2011), viewers were shown 2 mice – fat and skinny – and the differences were dramatic. In spite of eating the same food as the overweight mice, the mouse which also ate sea buckthorn was MUCH thinner.
Video
In this video, Dr. Oz shows the difference in how much the mice weighed and other benefits
Weight Loss Research
The mouse study they were referring to may have been this one.
Basically, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Then the mice were given a combination of sea buckthorn and a statin drug while eating the same diet. Twelve weeks later, the mice getting sea buckthorn weighed less than the mice which did not get it. As an added bonus, the fruit also lowers cholesterol levels AND helped their insulin worked better too.
Researchers in Finland tested this supplement in 110 overweight women for 3 months. The women were given diets that contained either Bilberries, Sea Buckthorn berries, Buckthorn extract, or the oil from the fruit. Researchers noted women getting the fruit had a significant reduction in waist circumference (about a half-inch difference). A small amount of weight was lost too (less than 1 pound).
This appears the only research on weight loss.
Now, let's look at some of the other reasons why someone might be interested in this supplement.
5 Sea Buckthorn and Colds/Flu
The berries of sea buckthorn contain vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and other plant nutrients which might help reduce the severity of colds and flu. Researchers in Finland tested this idea with an experiment involving 233 people who received either sea buckthorn on a placebo. There was no difference in the rates of colds of urinary tract infections in those taking sea buckthorn. To be fair, there are not many cold/flu studies out there. So, it's hard to know for sure if it works or not.
6 Sea Buckthorn And Ulcers
Most of the research on ulcers involves mice, rats, and horses. As such, it's anyone's guess if this food helps ulcers or not.
7 Sea Buckthorn And Heart Disease
Evidence suggests the berries of the plant can reduce cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol. In another study, the berries were shown to reduce CRP levels. CRP is marker of cell inflammation and thought to be invited in heart disease.
When researchers gave 12 men either 5 grams of sea buckthorn berry oil to coconut oil for 4 weeks, they observed the berry oil reduced blood clotting. In other words, the berry oil had a blood-thinning effect.
By lowering cholesterol and LDL levels, and helping blood flow, in theory, sea buckthorn might have heart health benefits. But, due to the small number of studies, it's difficult to know for sure.
Heart disease Research Summary
Research has noted sea buckthorn appears to:
- lower cholesterol and bad cholesterol
- lower CRP levels
- have a blood-thinning effects
All of these effects may translate into a lower heart attack risk. But it will take better studies to know for sure. Research finds people who eat more fruits and vegetables, have fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.
8 Sea Buckthorn And Diabetes
Researchers in Romania noted the berries decreased glycosolated hemoglobin in 30 kids with type I diabetes after 2 months of use. This may mean the berries reduce A1C levels. Levels of SOD – a powerful antioxidant enzyme – were also improved. The study only lasted 2 months. Generally, I'd like to see at least 3 or 4 months before checking for A1C reductions. A mouse study has also noted better insulin but human studies have not yet demonstrated this effect.
9 Sea Buckthorn And Skin
This supplement finds its way into some cosmetics. While the berries are rich in vitamin C, there may be other reasons too. A mouse study noted the fruit increased levels of a powerful antioxidant called SOD (superoxide dismutase) and prevented aging skin in mice exposed to UV radiation.
Researchers in San Diego noted that a 90-day treatment of a sea buckthorn supplement used alongside a drug called TAZ, improved wrinkles. This was a small study of only 10 women.
The supplement used this investigation was called GliSODin Skin Nutrients Advanced Anti-Aging Formula.B
10 Sea Buckthorn And Stress
No research appears to have investigated if sea buckthorn berries help reduce mental stress. It might or might not. It's anyone's guess at this point.
11 Berries vs. Juice
The fruit can be eaten or squeezed together to make a juice. While clinical trials comparing juice to berries cannot be located, I think in some ways they may be similar. If I had to pick one however, I'd choose to eat the berries because that is more of a whole food. There are likely compounds excluded when just drinking the juice.
12 Sea Buckthorn And Hair
While there seem to be no clinical trials on how it affects hair, there is buckthorn shampoo. Whether it's better than other shampoos needs more study. For more on hair see the Viviscal Review
13 Can You Drink Sea Buckthorn Oil?
Use the oil on the skin only. Do not drink it. No buckthorn oil I looked at for this review said to take it internally. To the contrary, they ALL said it was for external use only.
14 How Much Works?
This is difficult to say due to the lack of human studies. Some research has used about an ounce of berries per day. When it comes to using sea buckthorn oil on the skin, follow the directions on the product label.
15 Sea Buckthorn Side Effects
In healthy people, sea buckthorn is safe. Here are a few things to consider when using this supplement. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant/breastfeeding
- The supplement may have a blood thinner effect so speak to your doctor if you take any blood thinner medications
- The oil may cause acne or a rash in some people. Start with less than recommended for the first week to see how you respond.
- There is one report of sea buckthorn turning a man's skin yellow. This occurred after 3 months of use.
16 Does Sea Buckthorn Work?
The research on sea buckthorn is interesting but I think we need more human research to know if it helps various conditions or not. Because its a food, I do think the berries have their place in a healthy diet.
Katie, thanks for letting me know about the laxative effect of sea buckthorn and I will update this post as I find new info on this stuff.
I also saw the Dr. Oz episode on Sea Buckthorn. I have been trying to research it on the internet and came across the same study you posted, about 3 mins. before I found your site. I was hoping to get a bit more info. and with all the hoopla that Dr. Oz has created since that episode aired (yes, it seems Sea Buckthorn Oil is flying off the shelves per a store I went to), maybe Dr. Oz will do a follow-up episode.
I did run out to a vitamin / supplement shop and purchased a brand of Sea Buckthorn Oil caplets. I have been taking them for 1 week now. I am not looking for a miracle weight loss drug. I lost 50 lbs. the old fashion way with weight training 3-4 days a week and eating a low fat diet (25 grams of fat or less a day), I have been doing this since Jan. 2010. I still need to shed about 15 more lbs. and just not getting there. Hoping Sea Buckthorn will help it move along. Although I haven’t weighed myself so I cannot attest to it’s weight loss claims, I did notice that it does make your bowel movements regular and with ease, LOL! So, that part of Dr. Oz’s episode is true. I have saved this site to my favorites and will check in to see if anyone has new developments. If I find any additional info., I will report back. Thanks for doing a post on this subject!
George thanks for the feedback and I also never found the $5 sea buckthron either.
Joe good job on the research- Dr. Oz mentioned that you could purchase what he showed as a 12oz or larger bottle for $5 but nowhere so far have I found any such deals. And you are right the sellers are tooting their own horn on this and using Dr. OZ comments and even twisting it to sound like it was guaranteed to work. Nowhere on Dr. Oz site can I see any comment or data on this topic apart from his TV show. There are links on his page to ads selling the products, so the fact that he allowed the links means he must be getting kickbacks or some form of compensation. I hope to find some folks who may have tried it for weight loss and posted any feedback, until then “its buyer beware”
Thanks for the analysis! I believe in eating vegetables and fruits, exercising, and taking supplements. It’s always good to learn a bit more about other alternatives, although I agree with you that information from those selling the products is suspect. Thanks again.
Mumtaz, thanks for taking the time to write and Im happy you found me. I also apprecaite Dr. Oz’s enthusiasm and like to keep an open mind when it comes to supplements, but like you said, supplements should not be taken lightly, esp for those with health issues.
Joe – thanks for digging in to this sea buckthorn research more for us. Cuz – just like you and the other posters here – I saw that Dr. Oz episode, and immediately added SB to my Whole Foods shopping list. Then, I literally raced to my computer to google SB right then and there. That’s how I stumbled across your site.
My first question reading your findings was exactly the same as others: why potentially skew the results by giving those mice simvastatin – the anti-cholesterol drug?! How are we to know what actually lead to the dramatic weight difference (SB or the drug) until/unless there is yet another test done without the drug? Would the mice have died of high cholesterol way sooner if not for the drug? We simply don’t know.
Also, what if the miracle weight loss properties of SB are no more than its being a laxative? Again, irresponsible to promote something that could become habit-forming as well as interact with other medications and supplements a person takes. Yeah, exercise and healthy eating are the only “silver bullet” for life-long weight maintenance. I wish it could be easier.
I watch Dr. Oz’s show religiously, and respect the man (and love his enthusiasm!) but quite frankly, I feel I’ve been “burned” on more than one occasion by his advice or recommendation!
In particular, taking supplements or vitamins is NOT to be done lightly! Too much Vitamin C leaves me with mouth sores; fish oil does not agree with me; bromelain may be an anti-inflammatory, but when I took it to diminish a total body rash last summer, it did squat diddly. Ditto Arnica. Highly recommended, seems to work for many, but I find ZERO benefit to taking that prior to surgery.
I will always keep an open mind to things suggested in the area of good health. But I will also keep my eyes open and surf the ‘net to find sites like this that help put things in perspective before I dash out and spend cold, hard cash.
Heidi, I dont think it matters. I dont think the evidence is strong enough to recommend any type of seabuckthorn over another. I think whatever type you try, if it works you should notice a weight loss effect in about 2-3 weeks. I dont see any reason for sticking with it longer than this if its not working by then. If you do get the capsules you can always break them open and put them in a smoothie to kill the taste if it tastes bad.
I was very interested in Sea Buckhorn after watching the Dr. Oz Show. I started looking online to see what info I could find out about it. I found your article. I also found a lot of people selling it. It can be very confusing.
My question is …How should it be taken to get the best benefit from it? (I cannot swallow big caplets so I would have to do some form of liquid.) Is it better to take it as oil or as juice? And how much of it a day? I am still looking online to get as much info about Sea Buckhorn before I take the plunge and try it. Any suggestions would be a great help.
I’ll have to check out the Amazon comments. My only concern when it comes to supplements on Amazon is that some people may sell the product they are raving about. Sea buckthorn does have antioxidant properties and it may reduce inflammation so that’s good. I doubt if it reduces hunger but by all means do let me know what happens when you try it 🙂
I saw the show too, twice ! However, Dr OZ did not say that a human, would lose weight. He said it “may prove” to help with weight loss. It seemed clear to me that it had not yet been tested.
I was also shocked by the mice and was glad to see that you found the study. I also am wondering about the simvastatin as well as how much SB would a human need, to equal the amount given to a mouse?
I also read the the Amazon post and it seems like a good thing to try. Not only did they rave about their skin but some claimed to breath better, and even help with stomach problems. (One person claimed it curbed their hunger, I have my doubts.) It seems to have a lot of anti-inflammatory (sp?) properties, so I am going to check it out. I’ll let you know what I think.
Natasha, thanks for letting me know about Amazon. If you lose weight with it, Id apprecaite you letting me know.
I saw that episode of Dr. Oz. I had never heard of it before but I believe he has featured it some time ago previously. Anyhoo, I did some research and saw tons of comments on amazon.com from people who have used it. They all seem to relate to the skin benefits none mentioned weight loss. But since I do have occasion problems with my skin, I decided to try it. If it helps with my skin issues and perhaps melt some fat in the process, I say Win Win.
William and Stephanie thanks for chiming in and I’m happy I could help. William, it’s only recently I’ve become aware of Dr. Oz talking about supplements that, for me, had little proof.
For example in my review of Coleus Forskohlii for weight loss – Here is the link http://supplementclarity.com/coleus-forskohlii-forskolin-weight-loss/ – Dr Oz consults a “metabolic expert” who said the supplement raises metabolism. No study shows it does this. The metabolic expert I found out is a personal trainer who as far as I could tell has no scientific training. You can see her saying this on Youtube.
Stephanie, Ill be watching Dr. Oz more now because like you said, you’d think stuff he talks about should have some basis in scientific facts.
I was forced to watch the Dr. Oz segment about the mice by my wife who swears by the good doctor. I can find nothing that substantiates that study nor any mention of weight loss in relation to seabuckthorn oil on any credible website. Thanks for your help and work.
I have always considered Dr. Oz in the same light as Oprah and the other hucksters on TV. My feelings have not changed.
ps. I ordered the oil in capsule form and it is not inexpensive. Thanks Dr. Oz.
Thanks for the article, Joe. You did the leg-work for me. I would have thought there would have been more research as well, because if Dr. Oz is going to put it out there, you know everyone will be jumping on its bandwagon.
Leah, glad I could help you. I was really surprised at the lack of good research considering how great Dr Oz said it was. I’m going to be keeping my eye out for this stuff and will update my review if I learn anything new so check back for updates.
I am so glad I found this article! I saw the episode as well and was wondering why I had never heard about it before. Thanks for doing all that research. I wish there was an easy way to weight loss but I guess I’ll just have to keep eating well and exercising! 😉
Sofia, good question and I asked myself the same thing. Since I couldn’t read the whole study I’m not sure why they would do such a thing or any of the real specifics of the study.
In one of the studies you mentioned, why would they give the mice both sea buckthorn and simvastatin? How would they know how much of the result each one caused individually.