CHIA SEEDS (SALVIA HISPANICA L.) OIL: AN OVERVIEW - EXTRACTION, BENEFITS AND ENCAPSULATION

Chia oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which are essential for human health, since the human body is not able to synthesize these components. Therefore, it is important to know better the extraction of chia oil, its benefits, as well as maintaining the characteristics of this oil, in order to provide consumers with a good quality oil that can add nutrients to the diet. Here, we review recent advances in the extraction and evaluation of chia seed oil, as well as its health benefits and encapsulation techniques. The chia seed oil extraction studies provided higher extraction yields, which is industrially favorable. Currently, studies are focused on combining extraction techniques in order to obtain more significant results in view of the various methods that are available to determine the quality of the oil. Although chia oil has promising health benefits, already proven in animal studies, there is still a lack of clinical and human trials. Therefore, to better inform researchers, engineers and technologists, here we describe the studies of chia oil, showing the advances in extraction and, more recently, the use of encapsulation techniques for protecting oil.