Sesamin
Summary
Sesamin is the main lignan in sesame seeds. A 2022 meta-analysis of 7 small trials (212 people) found modest falls in total cholesterol, LDL and systolic blood pressure, with no change in weight. Trials in rheumatoid arthritis reported lower inflammatory markers. Lab studies show it inhibits drug-metabolising enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, and sesame is a major allergen.
Key facts
- 7 trials, 212 participants: total cholesterol −10.9 mg/dL, LDL −8.4 mg/dL, systolic BP −3.7 mmHg; no change in HDL, triglycerides, diastolic BP or weight[1]
- 60 mg/day for 4 weeks lowered BP by an average of 3.5/1.9 mmHg in 25 adults with mild hypertension[2]
- Inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in lab tests, including phenytoin metabolism[6]
- Sesame is one of the nine major food allergens in the United States[7]
- 4 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedSesamin is absorbed and converted to metabolites (SC-1) within hours. Lab and animal studies suggest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering actions; in women with rheumatoid arthritis, sesamin lowered malondialdehyde and raised antioxidant capacity. How it lowers blood pressure in humans is not established.[5][3][1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholesterol | Grade C | Improved | Meta-analysis · n = 212 · 2022 | 2 rows |
| Joint symptoms | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 44 · 2019 | 1 row |
| Blood pressure | Grade D | Improved | Crossover RCT · n = 25 · 2009 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol, LDL, blood pressure and weight | Improved | Grade C | Meta-analysis · n = 212 · 2022 Adults in 7 randomised trials Form: Sesamin supplements · Dose: Varied · Duration: Varied Total cholesterol fell by 10.9 mg/dL, LDL by 8.4 mg/dL and systolic BP by 3.7 mmHg; HDL, triglycerides, diastolic BP and weight did not change. | 35311241 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Lipids, blood pressure and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 44 · 2016 Women with rheumatoid arthritis Form: Sesamin · Dose: 200 mg/day · Duration: 6 weeks Malondialdehyde fell and antioxidant capacity and HDL rose versus placebo; weight, BMI, other lipids and systolic BP improved within the sesamin group but did not differ from placebo. | 26151734 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Inflammatory markers, tender joints and pain in rheumatoid arthritis | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 44 · 2019 Women with rheumatoid arthritis Form: Sesamin · Dose: 200 mg/day · Duration: 6 weeks hs-CRP, TNF-alpha and COX-2 fell versus placebo, along with fewer tender joints and less pain. | 31309643 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Blood pressure in mild hypertension | Improved | Grade D | Crossover RCT · n = 25 · 2009 Middle-aged adults with mild hypertension Form: Sesamin capsules · Dose: 60 mg/day · Duration: 4 weeks per period Systolic BP fell 3.5 mmHg and diastolic 1.9 mmHg with sesamin, with little change on placebo. | 19352068 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesamin/episesamin (sesame lignan) capsules | Varies[2][3][5] | After 50 mg/day, sesamin peaked in blood at about 5 hours; its main metabolite had a half-life of 2.4 hours and there was no build-up over 28 days.[5] | No serious adverse events in 48 healthy adults over 28 days.[5] | Blood pressure, lipid and rheumatoid arthritis trials (50–200 mg/day) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 50 mg/day of sesame lignans (28 days) to 60 mg/day of sesamin (4 weeks, mild hypertension) and 200 mg/day (6 weeks, rheumatoid arthritis).[2][3][5]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 substrates with a narrow therapeutic rangeReviewSesamin inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in lab tests and blocked phenytoin hydroxylation, predicting higher drug levels; not yet confirmed in humans.[6]
- Blood-pressure medicinesRCTSesamin modestly lowered blood pressure in trials, so effects could add up; no combination studies exist.[1][2]
Who should be careful
- Sesame allergy
- Sesame is a major food allergen; sesame-derived supplements are not suitable for people with sesame allergy.[7]
- People on anticoagulants or seizure medicines
- Because sesamin inhibits CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in lab studies, people on narrow-range drugs such as warfarin or phenytoin should discuss it with their prescriber.[6]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
How to read the label
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Frequently asked questions
What is sesamin?
The main lignan (a plant polyphenol) in sesame seeds and sesame oil, concentrated in supplements.[1]
Does sesamin lower cholesterol?
Modestly. A meta-analysis of 7 small trials found total cholesterol fell about 11 mg/dL and LDL about 8 mg/dL.[1]
Does sesamin lower blood pressure?
Slightly: about 3.7 mmHg systolic in the meta-analysis, and 3.5/1.9 mmHg with 60 mg/day in a small trial in mild hypertension.[1][2]
Does it help with weight loss?
No. The meta-analysis found no effect on body weight.[1]
Can sesamin interact with medicines?
Possibly. Lab studies show it inhibits the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 enzymes that clear drugs such as phenytoin and warfarin; this has not been tested in people.[6]
Sources
- [1]The Effects of Sesamin Supplementation on Obesity, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2022. meta-analysis
- [2]Antihypertensive effects of sesamin in humans.. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 2009. crossover-RCT
- [3]Effect of Sesamin Supplementation on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis.. J Am Coll Nutr, 2016. RCT
- [4]A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, evaluating the sesamin supplement effects on proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory markers, and clinical indices in women with rheumatoid arthritis.. Phytother Res, 2019. RCT
- [5]Pharmacokinetics and safety of the sesame lignans, sesamin and episesamin, in healthy subjects.. Biopharm Drug Dispos, 2013. PK-study
- [6]Sesamin exhibits potential food-drug interactions through the inhibition of cytochrome P450s and human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in vitro.. RSC Adv, 2026. animal-study
- [7]The FASTER Act: Sesame Is the Ninth Major Food Allergen. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024. fact-sheet
What changed
- Adversarial second pass: every PMID re-checked against NCBI esummary (title, year, no retraction, erratum or expression-of-concern flags) and every number in each evidence row re-read against its PubMed abstract (PMC full text where the abstract lacked dose or duration). Countries and funding notes kept only where the abstract or full text states them; interactions listed only where a source supports them, otherwise stated as unstudied.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.