Nervonic Acid
Evidence Fact Sheet
Nervonic acid (C24:1n-9) is an ultra-long-chain MUFA and structural component of myelin sphingolipids. Human evidence is observational: serum/RBC levels correlate with cognition in some studies, while one dementia study found it elevated. No meta-analysis or supplementation RCT exists.
Also known as: C24:1n-9 · cis-15-tetracosenoic acid · Selacholeic acid · Acer truncatum seed oil (carrier) · Malania oleifera oil (carrier)
Overview
Nervonic acid (C24:1n-9, cis-15-tetracosenoic acid) is an ultra-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid that is a structural component of myelin sphingolipids (sphingomyelin and cerebrosides), where it is proposed to support myelin-sheath integrity and white-matter fatty-acid composition. It occurs naturally in human milk and in edible carrier oils such as Acer truncatum (yuanbaofeng) seed oil and Malania oleifera oil, which are typically standardized to roughly 5-6% nervonic acid. There is no established human supplemental dose and no FDA GRAS determination for the isolated compound; in China the Acer truncatum seed oil carrier is approved as a Novel Food ingredient, while EU (Novel Food/EFSA) and Brazil (ANVISA) status remain pending and there is no EFSA- or FDA-authorized health claim. Human evidence is preliminary and observational/mechanistic only — no randomized supplementation trial and no meta-analysis exist. This is educational evidence reporting, not a dosing recommendation or medical advice.
Mechanism of Action
Ultra-long-chain MUFA structural component of myelin sphingolipids (sphingomyelin/cerebrosides) · Proposed support of myelin sheath integrity and remyelination (preclinical/observational) · Neuronal membrane and white-matter fatty-acid composition modulation (research-context)
Body systems: BRAIN · NERVOUS
Evidence-Based Benefits
Each benefit below is anchored to a specific PubMed-indexed study. Effect sizes, sample sizes, and p-values are reported as published; no values are inferred. Honest negatives and null results are kept alongside the positive findings, and disease-research populations are described as such — Nervonic Acid is not characterized as a treatment for any disease.
Cognition · Red-Blood-Cell Fatty-Acid Biomarker (MCI/AD)
Emerging / indexed- r = 0.54MMSE vs nervonic acid · MCI
- p = 0.01correlation significance
In a case-control study profiling red-blood-cell fatty acids in newly diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease versus matched controls, nervonic acid showed a positive correlation with Mini-Mental State Examination score within the MCI group — i.e. higher membrane nervonic acid tracked with better cognitive test performance. This is an observational association, not evidence that supplementing nervonic acid improves cognition.
Reported effect: Positive correlation between MMSE score and nervonic acid in MCI: r = 0.54, p = 0.01
“A positive correlation was evident between the Mini-Mental State Examination score and nervonic acid in MCI (r = 0.54, p = 0.01) and a negative correlation with γ-linolenic acid in AD (r = -0.43, p = 0.05).”
Source: PMID 37762467 · Dhillon 2023 · Int J Mol Sci
Cognition · Serum Fatty-Acid Profile (Older-Adult Population)
Emerging / indexed- OR 0.9395% CI 0.91-0.96
- 529community-dwelling adults ≥60
In a community cross-sectional study of 529 adults aged 60 and over, higher serum nervonic acid concentration was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment after adjusting for age, sex, education and lipid parameters (ordinal logistic regression). The authors concluded that cognitive-impairment risk decreased as serum nervonic acid rose — an observational inverse association, not a demonstrated treatment effect.
Reported effect: Adjusted OR of cognitive impairment per serum nervonic acid: 0.93 (95% CI 0.91-0.96); n = 529
“the OR (95%CI) of eicosenoic acid, nervonic acid and ratio of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3/n-6) was 1.06 (1.01-1.10), 0.93 (0.91-0.96), and 0.17 (0.04-0.73). ... The risk of cognitive impairment decreased with the raise of serum nervonic acid concentration”
Source: PMID 29886686 · Song 2018 · Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi
Dementia · Serum Biomarker & Mitochondrial Mechanism (Honest Contrast)
Null / no benefit Emerging / indexedCounter to the protective cognition associations, a serum-metabolomics plus in-vitro study found nervonic acid significantly elevated in participants with dementia versus those with normal cognition, and identified it (with 15-epi-PGA1) as a candidate 'mito-inhibitory' lipid that reduced neuronal mitochondrial respiration in cell models. This is an honest negative/contradictory signal: in this dementia population higher circulating nervonic acid tracked with worse, not better, status. Findings are mechanistic and not a supplementation trial.
Effect size: not quantified on this page — see the linked study below for the reported figures.
Source: PMID 40640460 · Heimler 2025 · GeroScience
Infant Nutrition · Nervonic Acid Content of Human Milk
Emerging / indexed- 0.76 mg/g fatcolostrum
- 0.20 mg/g fatmature milk · p<0.001
- 224 samples8 mothers
A quantitative analysis of 224 human-milk samples from eight mothers found nervonic acid highest in colostrum and significantly lower in mature milk, dropping about 65% over the first 10 days of lactation. Across 181 commercial infant formulae, most contained under 16% of the colostrum level. This is compositional/descriptive evidence on natural nervonic-acid supply during early development, not a clinical outcome trial.
Reported effect: Colostrum 0.76 ± 0.23 mg/g fat vs mature milk 0.20 ± 0.03 mg/g fat (p < 0.001); 224 samples, 8 mothers; most formulae <16% of colostrum level
“The results show that the NA concentration was highest in colostrum (0.76 ± 0.23 mg/g fat) and significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in mature milk (0.20 ± 0.03 mg/g fat). ... The NA content in most formulae was <16% of that found in colostrum and less than that found in mature human milk (p < 0.05).”
Source: PMID 31416149 · Yu 2019 · Nutrients
Dosage (research context · not a recommendation)
No established human supplemental dose. Acer truncatum seed oil products typically standardized to ~5-6% nervonic acid; studied human evidence is preliminary/observational. Educational reference only, not a dosing recommendation.
Regulatory Status · 4 Markets
- US · FDA
- No FDA GRAS determination for isolated nervonic acid; some Acer truncatum (yuanbaofeng) seed oil products marketed as DSHEA dietary supplements with structure/function claims only; no FDA-authorized health claim.
- EU · EFSA
- No EFSA-authorized health claim; Acer truncatum / Malania seed oil as a source may fall under EU Novel Food regulation requiring EFSA assessment, not currently authorized.
- CN · China
- Carrier oil Acer truncatum (yuanbaofeng) seed oil approved as Novel Food ingredient in China (2011 announcement); nervonic acid is its signature functional constituent.
- BR · ANVISA
- No specific ANVISA registration or authorized functional claim identified for nervonic acid or Acer truncatum seed oil in Brazil.
Safety
Consumed as a minor constituent of edible carrier oils (Acer truncatum seed oil approved as a Novel Food in China) with limited isolated-compound safety data. Human RCT evidence is lacking; mechanistic and observational data only. Not characterized for pregnancy/lactation. Educational information, not medical advice; not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Related
Goals: cognitive-support
Lifestyles: senior-60-plus
References
PubMed-indexed citations anchoring the benefit findings above. Effect sizes are reported as published.
- PMID 37762467 · Dhillon 2023 · Int J Mol Sci — Cognition · Red-Blood-Cell Fatty-Acid Biomarker (MCI/AD)
- PMID 29886686 · Song 2018 · Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi — Cognition · Serum Fatty-Acid Profile (Older-Adult Population)
- PMID 40640460 · Heimler 2025 · GeroScience — Dementia · Serum Biomarker & Mitochondrial Mechanism (Honest Contrast)
- PMID 31416149 · Yu 2019 · Nutrients — Infant Nutrition · Nervonic Acid Content of Human Milk
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is nervonic acid and where does it come from?
Nervonic acid (C24:1n-9, cis-15-tetracosenoic acid, also called selacholeic acid) is an ultra-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid and a structural component of myelin sphingolipids such as sphingomyelin and cerebrosides. It occurs naturally in human milk and is concentrated in certain seed oils used as carriers — Acer truncatum (yuanbaofeng) seed oil and Malania oleifera oil — which are typically standardized to about 5-6% nervonic acid.
2. Why is nervonic acid discussed in the context of infants and breast milk?
Because nervonic acid is part of myelin and appears naturally in human milk during a period of rapid white-matter development. One quantitative study of 224 milk samples from 8 mothers found it highest in colostrum (0.76 mg/g fat) and significantly lower in mature milk (0.20 mg/g fat, p<0.001), with most commercial formulae containing under 16% of the colostrum level. This is compositional data describing natural supply; it does not establish a required intake or a developmental outcome.
3. What is the regulatory status and is there a recommended dose?
There is no established human supplemental dose and the page does not provide one. There is no FDA GRAS determination for isolated nervonic acid and no FDA- or EFSA-authorized health claim. In China the Acer truncatum seed oil carrier is approved as a Novel Food ingredient; EU (Novel Food/EFSA) and Brazil (ANVISA) status are pending. Some US products are marketed under DSHEA with structure/function claims only. Isolated-compound safety data are limited and it is not characterized for pregnancy or lactation.
Last evidence review: 2026-06-21