Guide 12 | What Is Squalene in Olive Oil? Benefits, Sources & Why It Matters
- Nov 13, 2023
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 30
PJ Kabos Guide to Olive Oil
This article is Part 12 of the PJ Kabos Guide to Olive Oil — where ancient olive-growing wisdom meets modern science, your guide to choosing, tasting and enjoying exceptional extra virgin olive oil — especially high-phenolic varieties, in which we specialize. We hope it inspires you in your olive-oil journey.
In this article, we take a closer look at squalene — a naturally occurring compound found in olive oil — exploring what it is, why it matters, and what current research suggests about its role in both olive oil quality and human health.
Scientifically speaking, what is squalene?
As with so many fascinating aspects of olive oil, understanding squalene begins with a little chemistry.
Simply put, squalene is a naturally occurring organic compound found in plants, animals, and humans. In olive oil, it is one of many naturally occurring components that contribute to both the oil's quality and its nutritional profile.
Chemically, squalene is classified as a triterpene with the molecular formula C₃₀H₅₀. It is an important hydrocarbon that serves as an intermediate molecule in the production of sterols, a family of compounds essential for maintaining healthy cell membranes in both plants and animals.
One of squalene's most distinctive characteristics is its chemical structure. Its thirty carbon atoms are linked by six double bonds. That unusual structure is more than an interesting chemical fact. It helps explain many of the properties that have made squalene the subject of growing scientific interest.
Unsaturation?
In chemistry, a molecule is described as unsaturated when it contains one or more double bonds. The more double bonds a molecule has, the more unsaturated it is. Squalene has six of these double bonds, making it a highly unsaturated molecule.
Those double bonds make squalene more chemically reactive. Because they readily react with oxygen, squalene is more susceptible to oxidation when exposed to excessive light, heat, and oxygen. This is one reason proper storage helps preserve the quality of extra virgin olive oil.
Yet those same double bonds are also squalene's superpower. They contribute to its antioxidant activity and help explain why this naturally occurring compound continues to attract scientific interest for its potential role in supporting human health when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
Takeaway
Squalene's six double bonds help make it one of olive oil's most fascinating naturally occurring compounds.
The Guardian of the Grove
Squalene's unique chemical structure has inspired within me the image of a guardian standing watch over an ancient olive grove. While symbolic, it reflects the compound's antioxidant activity and the growing scientific interest in its potential role in supporting human health.
Quietly present, never seeking attention, it stands ready to help defend against oxidative stress by interacting with unstable free radicals before they can damage healthy human cells. While no single nutrient is a miracle, this protective role is one reason scientists continue to study squalene.
Where Is Squalene Found?
Although this article focuses on olive oil, squalene is found throughout nature. It occurs in both plants and animals, where it plays important biological roles.
Showcasing the diversity of its habitats, venture into the depths of the ocean, and you'll encounter it in great amounts in shark liver oil. In fact, it is one of the richest natural sources of squalene. The name squalene is derived from the Latin word squalus, meaning "shark." The --ene ending indicates that it is an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing double bonds, a common naming convention in organic chemistry.
On land, squalene is also found in a variety of plant foods, including olive oil, wheat germ, rice bran, and amaranth seeds. It is even produced naturally by the human body, where it forms part of sebum — the skin's natural oil. As part of the skin's natural barrier, it helps moisturize and protect against the environment.
From the depths of the ocean to ancient Mediterranean olive groves — and even within our own skin — squalene is a remarkable compound woven throughout the natural world.
Takeaway
Squalene is not unique to olive oil. It is a naturally occurring compound found in plants, animals, and humans, reflecting its important role in nature.
Sharks, Squalene & Sustainability
Squalene's exceptional moisturizing properties have made it a highly valued ingredient in cosmetics, skincare products, and some pharmaceutical applications for many decades.
For decades, shark liver oil was the primary commercial source of squalene used in cosmetics and other products. Today, however, growing awareness of marine conservation has encouraged manufacturers to seek more sustainable plant-derived alternatives.
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. As apex predators, they help keep ocean food webs in balance and are often considered important indicators of the overall health of the seas.
Many deep-sea shark species are especially vulnerable to overexploitation. They grow slowly, mature late in life, and produce relatively few offspring. This reproductive strategy has served sharks well throughout their long history, but it also means their populations recover slowly when heavily fished.
Fortunately, sustainable plant-derived sources of squalene now exist. Olive oil is one of the most important, alongside amaranth, rice bran, wheat germ, and, more recently, sugarcane. As manufacturers increasingly turn to these renewable alternatives, reliance on shark-derived squalene continues to decline.
For olive oil lovers, this offers another reason to appreciate the remarkable chemistry of the olive. Beyond its culinary and nutritional value, the olive tree also contributes to the conservation of some of the ocean's most remarkable and important creatures.
Takeaway
Choosing products made with plant-derived squalene helps encourage more sustainable sourcing while reducing reliance on shark-derived sources.
Squalene or Squalane? What's the Difference?
If you look at the ingredients list on many skincare products, cosmetics, and even some pharmaceuticals, you'll probably notice squalane with an "a," not squalene with an "e." Although their names differ by only one letter, they are not the same compound.
Squalane is produced by hydrogenating natural squalene. This process converts squalene into a more stable, saturated molecule that is especially well suited for use in skincare and cosmetic products because it is less prone to oxidation and has a longer shelf life.
Squalene, by contrast, is the naturally occurring form. While squalane is valued primarily for topical applications, squalene is most commonly obtained through the foods we eat as part of a balanced diet.
An important point, however, is that squalane must begin as natural squalene. Whether that original squalene comes from olives, amaranth, sugarcane, rice bran, wheat germ, or historically from shark liver oil, nature still provides the starting material.
This is yet another reason why sustainable plant-derived sources of squalene are so important. They help meet the demand for cosmetics, skincare products, and other applications while reducing reliance on shark-derived sources.
Takeaway
Squalene and squalane are closely related, but they are not the same. Squalane is a more stable form produced from natural squalene, making sustainable plant sources increasingly important. While squalane is valued primarily for skincare and cosmetic applications, squalene is the naturally occurring form found in foods such as extra virgin olive oil and is obtained as part of a balanced diet.
Not All Olive Oils Are Created Equal
Although squalene is naturally present in all olive oil, its concentration can vary considerably. In general, higher levels are more commonly found in high-quality extra virgin olive oils, although every harvest is unique.
Many factors influence how much squalene ultimately finds its way into the bottle. Some are determined by nature, while others depend on the decisions and care of the producer.
Many of these same factors also influence the levels of other naturally occurring compounds, including polyphenols. As a result, olive oils that are especially rich in squalene are often, but not always, rich in polyphenols as well, although each compound varies independently and should be measured on its own.
Producing olive oils with naturally high levels of squalene and other beneficial compounds often requires careful cultivation, early harvesting, meticulous processing, and lower yields from younger olives. These additional efforts help explain why exceptional extra virgin olive oils often command a higher price. Rather than paying for more oil, consumers are paying for the quality, care, and craftsmanship that went into producing it.
Takeaway
Squalene levels vary naturally from one olive oil to another. Higher concentrations are often associated with carefully produced, high-quality extra virgin olive oils, where attention to every stage of production helps preserve this and many other beneficial compounds.
What Does Research Say About Squalene?
Scientists continue to study squalene because it is one of the many naturally occurring compounds that contribute to the remarkable chemistry of extra virgin olive oil.
Research has explored squalene's antioxidant activity, its relationship to inflammation, and its potential role in supporting cardiovascular health. Scientists have also investigated its possible protective effects against oxidative stress — the process by which unstable molecules can damage cells, proteins, lipids, and DNA. While many findings are promising, research is ongoing, and much remains to be learned.
What's perhaps even more remarkable is that by incorporating extra virgin olive oil into our diets, we naturally consume squalene as part of one of the world's oldest and most studied traditional eating patterns.
For thousands of years, people throughout the Mediterranean have enjoyed extra virgin olive oil as a daily staple. Today, modern research continues to explore how naturally occurring compounds such as squalene, together with polyphenols, vitamin E, sterols, and many others, may contribute to the health-promoting qualities associated with the Mediterranean diet.
Rather than acting alone, squalene is one part of a remarkable natural partnership found within high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Looking at the whole picture, rather than focusing on a single compound, helps us better appreciate why extra virgin olive oil remains one of the world's most valued traditional foods.
Takeaway
Current research suggests that squalene contributes to the remarkable nutritional profile of extra virgin olive oil. However, it is best understood as one important part of the olive's naturally occurring chemistry, working alongside many other beneficial compounds.
A Remarkable Harvest: The 2023/24 Phenolic Shot
Every harvest is unique. Weather, growing conditions, olive variety, harvest timing, and many other factors influence the natural chemistry of an olive oil.
Much like memorable vintages in the world of wine, certain olive harvests stand out for their exceptional natural chemistry. The 2023/24 harvest proved to be one of those exceptional years. Laboratory analysis recorded a squalene concentration of 9,084 mg/kg (just over 9 g/kg) — an unusually high value that our IOC-certified chemist described as "off the chart."
While concentrations naturally vary from year to year, this result illustrates the remarkable variability that can occur when variety, growing conditions, and careful production come together.
Current laboratory analyses for our latest harvests — also high — are always available.
Conclusion
Long before scientists understood the chemistry of squalene, Mediterranean families had already made extra virgin olive oil a daily part of life.
Today, modern research continues to reveal the remarkable compounds hidden within every drop.
Squalene is one of them.
Quietly present, naturally occurring, and increasingly appreciated by science, squalene reminds us that many of nature's greatest treasures have been with us long before scientific studies could explain their benefits. For generations, people trusted the wisdom passed down from parents and grandparents, who valued extra virgin olive oil because experience had shown it to be a gift worth preserving. Today, science continues to uncover the reasons why.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS SQUALENE IN OLIVE OIL?
Squalene is a naturally occurring compound found in extra virgin olive oil and many other living organisms. It belongs to a class of compounds called triterpenes and is valued for its antioxidant properties and its potential role in supporting human health. Olive oil is one of the richest plant-based dietary sources of squalene.
WHICH OLIVE OILS CONTAIN THE MOST SQUALENE?
All extra virgin olive oils contain squalene, but the amount varies considerably. Factors such as olive variety, growing conditions, harvest timing, cultivation practices, processing methods, and the care taken by the producer all influence the final concentration. Oils with naturally high levels of squalene are often, but not always, also rich in polyphenols.
CAN YOU EAT SQUALANE LIKE YOU CAN SQUALENE?
Not typically. Squalene is the naturally occurring compound found in foods such as extra virgin olive oil and is consumed as part of a balanced diet. Squalane is a more stable derivative produced from natural squalene through hydrogenation and is used primarily in skincare and cosmetic products rather than as a dietary ingredient.
WHY IS SQUALENE IMPORTANT?
Researchers continue to study squalene because of its antioxidant activity and its potential role in supporting cardiovascular health, skin health, and protection against oxidative stress. Although research is promising, squalene is best understood as one of many naturally occurring compounds that contribute to the remarkable nutritional profile of high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
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For Those Who Love to Dig Deeper
Please note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance regarding your health and medical conditions.
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