Sesame oil adds a nutty flavor to marinades, salads and stir-fry meals. The oil is an integral component of Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional health care practice of India, where it is used for massage and in poultices for skin conditions and other health disorders. Sesame oil contains one primary vitamin, along with other beneficial substances.
Primary Vitamin
Sesame oil has antioxidant properties, so it can help eliminate free radicals, which are waste products in the body that can lead to cell damage and disease. The components of sesame oil responsible for its antioxidant effects are vitamin E and lignans, according to as study in the "Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine." Sesame oil contains 40 mg of vitamin E in 100 g of oil, or about 40 mg per 7/8 cup.
Potential
Lignans and vitamin E also have antihypertensive properties, meaning they can lower blood pressure. The unsaturated fatty acids in sesame oil aid this effect. The "Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine" study found that sesame oil reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure. The authors cite another study, in which vitamin E supplements reduced blood pressure in people with mild hypertension.
Low-Level Vitamin
Sesame oil contains a very small amount of vitamin K, according to a guide compiled by University of Utah Health Care for people taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin. The oil contains 2 mcg per tbsp, or 30 mcg per cup. People taking warfarin need to know the vitamin K content of foods, because warfarin works by interfering with vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting.
Usage
The amount of vitamin E in 1 tbsp. of sesame oil provides zero percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E, which is 15 mg per day, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. To obtain the entire 15 mg, you'd need to consume around 1/3 cup of sesame oil per day.
Considerations
Sesame oil does not contain minerals or protein. Consuming sesame seeds rather than the oil provides more nutrients, as the oil is an isolated component. In addition to vitamin E, sesame seeds provide copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, along with vitamin B1, the amino acid tryptophan and fiber, as noted by World's Healthiest Foods. Sesame oil does not provide any of these beneficial substances. Sesame oil does contain the fatty acids found in sesame seeds, but these fatty acids are not the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids recommended for cardiovascular health, as noted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health at its MedlinePlus website. The main component of sesame oil is the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid, and large amounts of this substance have been associated with inflammation.
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