Lowell, Mass - For years people have touted the homeopathic benefits of emu oil. Healing, penetrating, anti-aging, and cholesterol lowering testimonials have been used to promote all natural emu oil in the
U.S.

Dr. Robert Nicolosi, Director of the Center for Health and Disease Research at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell , has been conducting research to evaluate these claims. "Animal trials indicate that emu oil does have cholesterol lowering, anti-inflammatory and transdermal properties," reports Nicolosi.

Two different trials were done to evaluate the transdermal qualities of emu oil. In both trials, a preparation of emu oil containing either tocopherol (Vitamin E) or DHA (docosahexanoic), an omega 3 fatty acid was topically applied to the shaved surface of hamsters. Periodic blood samples taken over a seven day period demonstrated rather convincing evidence that emu oil has transdermal properties suggesting it may be utilized for transdermal delivery of compounds such as fat soluble nutrients, drugs or over-the-counter prescriptions.

Inflammation studies with mice indicated that emu oil significantly reduced croton oil-induced inflammation from 42% to 71% depending on when it was applied. A comparison with other oils in the omega 3 family oftentimes used to alleviate arthritic pain due to inflammation indicates that emu oil may be at least as good and possibly better at reducing inflammation. These anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil as well as the transdermal qualities indicate emu oil may have a place in topical applications.

Cholesterol research with hamsters fed a hypercholesterolemic diet followed by inclusion of emu oil provided significant results. Emu oil reduced the total cholesterol over 30%. Low Density Liprotein (bad cholesterol) was reduced 25%. With over 100 million Americans suffering from high cholesterol, cholesterol lowering drugs make up a major part of the pharmaceutical products market. If results from future human clinical trials of Emu Oil support the animal findings, it may become a very attractive additional cholesterol-lowering treatment for some consumers.

"Our research continues to investigate the many intriguing aspects of this oil. The most recent conclusions are very promising for millions of Americans," said Nicolosi.

About Dr. Nicolosi
Dr. Robert Nicolosi is the Director of the Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Widely recognized for research on vegetable oils, sterols and lecithin with emphasis on biological and physiological effects, he is most noted for his identification of the active ingredients in oils having cholesterol-lowering effects. He has published more than 150 peer reviewed papers.