Pine Nut Oil supplement Does use lead to weight loss? Ray Sahelian, M.D.
January 20 2016

A compound in Korean pine tree nuts may act as an appetite suppressant. A British study was done on the effect of commercially produced pine nut oil in 18 overweight women. These volunteers were randomly divided into a group that received gel capsules containing either Lipid Nutrition's PinnoThin pine oil product or olive oil, before eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast of white bread and orange marmalade. One week later the researchers repeated the experiment, giving pine nut oil-containing capsules to the women who originally consumed olive oil and vice versa. The oil in the pine nuts appeared to promote the release of cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), two gastrointestinal hormones that are known to send "satiety signals" - i.e. signals that the stomach is feeling full - to the brain. After taking the pine nut oil-containing capsules, the women reported a lower desire to eat and a desire to eat less food during their next meal than they did after consuming the olive oil supplements. Pine nuts in general are a good source of protein and healthy fats, particularly for vegetarians. Apparently Korean pine nut is contains much higher levels of the polyunsaturated fats than do other nuts.
   Comments: It was not clear from this article whether the use of pine nut oil supplements led to actual weight loss. However, it is a promising study and a couple more are needed to have a clearer understanding of the role of pine nut oil extracts in weight loss management.

Studies
Lipids Health Dis. 2008 Mar 20;7:10. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-7-10.The effect of Korean pine nut oil on in vitro CCK release, on appetite sensations and on gut hormones in post-menopausal overweight women. Appetite suppressants may be one strategy in the fight against obesity. This study evaluated whether Korean pine nut free fatty acids (FFA) and triglycerides (TG) work as an appetite suppressant. Korean pine nut FFA were evaluated in STC-1 cell culture for their ability to increase cholecystokinin (CCK-8) secretion vs. several other dietary fatty acids from Italian stone pine nut fatty acids, oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and capric acid used as a control. This study suggests that Korean pine nut may work as an appetite suppressant through an increasing effect on satiety hormones and a reduced prospective food intake.

The effect of Korean pine nut oil PinnoThin on food intake, feeding behaviour and appetite: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Lipids Health Dis. 2008. Hughes GM, Boyland EJ, Williams NJ, Mennen L, Scott C, Kirkham TC, Harrold JA, Keizer HG, Halford JC. School of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, Liverpool, UK.
In the current study, the effects of a Korean pine nut oil product, PinnoThin, at doses 2 g, 4 g and 6 g triglyceride (TG) and 2 g free fatty acid (FFA), on food intake and appetite were examined in a cross-over double-blind placebo-controlled randomised counter-balanced design in 42 overweight female volunteers. 2 g FFA PinnoThin, given 30 minutes prior to an ad-libitum buffet test lunch, significantly reduced food intake (gram) by 9% compared to olive oil control. No significant effect of PinnoThin on macronutrient intake or ratings of appetite were observed. Given the recent data showing that the TG form of PinnoThin may also reduce appetite by increasing cholecystokinin release, the lack of any effect of the TG form found in this study could be attributed to the timing of the dosing regime. Collectively, these data suggest that PinnoThin may exert satiating effects consistent with its known action on cholecystokinin and glucagon like peptide-1 release, and previously observed effects on self-reported appetite ratings.

Nutr Res Pract. October 2013. Impact of Korean pine nut oil on weight gain and immune responses in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Consumption of PNO reduced weight gain in mice fed with HFD, but this effect did not result in the overall improvement in immune responses.

Press release from Source Naturals
Korean pine nuts are a rich source of pinolenic acid, which may increase concentrations of the satiety hormones glucogon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and cholecystokinin (CCK). A small-scale study suggests that Source Naturals PineSlim, containing PinnoThin may reduce feelings of hunger by increasing concentrations of appetite-suppressing hormones.

Pine nut oil supplement questions
Q. I enjoy reading your website and have found benefit from the products you have formulated. I am curious about a pine nut oil supplement called PinnoThin. I have read on a website that it suppresses appetite without any stimulant effect. I am a diabetic and struggle with meal proportions.
   A. One British study found pine nut oil extract PInnoThin to be helpful as an appetite suppressant.

Q.  I have been looking for Extra Virgin Siberian Pine Nut Oil; supposed to be excellent for gastro-intestinal problems including ulcers; it's that true?
   A. I have not seen human research with Siberian pine nut oil and ulcer treatment.
 

See also pine bark extract supplement information.