Could Whale Oil Improve Hair Growth, Focus, and Strength?

At a media seminar in Tokyo hosted by the Japan Whaling Association, researchers presented a raft of new findings suggesting that whale oil and whale meat could offer far more than cultural nostalgia. Once remembered mainly as a staple of postwar school lunches in Japan, whale products are now being positioned as "marine vitamins," with the potential to prevent disease, improve physical performance, and even slow the aging process.

Tradition Meets Modern Science

In his opening remarks, Naoya Tanikawa, chairman of the Japan Whaling Association, reminded participants that Japan's relationship with whales stretches back to the Jomon period (14,000–300 BCE).

"Whale meat has always been high-protein and low-calorie," he said, "but today we are showing research that goes beyond those traditional ideas." For Tanikawa, the scientific evidence is not just about validating an old food culture but about offering solutions to contemporary health challenges.

Balenine: A Compound with Promise

One of the stars of the event was balenine, a compound found in especially high concentrations in whale meat. Professor Seiji Shioda of Shonan University of Medical Sciences described how trials with high school athletes revealed tangible benefits.

Students who took four balenine capsules daily reported sharper focus, greater resistance to fatigue, and improved sleep quality. When supplementation stopped, so did the improvements, hinting at a direct biological effect.

Shiota explained that balenine seems to stimulate the release of myokines, beneficial molecules secreted by muscles during exercise. These, he said, are "linked to cancer prevention, diabetes control, and dementia prevention," suggesting that combining balenine with physical activity could be a potent formula for preventive health.

His team also observed activation of the so-called "longevity gene," SIRT1, in both animal and human studies. Shioda noted, "That means we are not just seeing temporary boosts in performance but potential contributions to longer, healthier lives."

Whale Oil and Metabolic Health

While balenine captured attention for its effects on performance and cognition, whale oil itself emerged as an equally promising focus. Unlike conventional fish oils, it contains particularly high levels of DPA (docosapentaenoic acid), a lesser-known omega-3 fatty acid. Shiota pointed out that while DHA and EPA have been widely studied, "DPA may have even greater potential in fighting obesity and diabetes."

Experiments with mice on high-fat diets supported the claim: those given whale oil showed reduced cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and less fat accumulation in the liver. Whale oil appeared to suppress enzymes tied to fat synthesis, suggesting new possibilities for managing metabolic syndrome.

Preliminary human trials produced similar trends, with participants showing lower triglycerides after 12 weeks of supplementation. "If larger studies confirm this," Shiota said, "whale oil could be a valuable addition to preventive nutrition."

A Surprising Turn: Hair Growth

Perhaps the most unexpected presentation involved whale oil's potential for hair regeneration. In side-by-side tests with minoxidil, the standard treatment for male pattern baldness, whale oil not only matched but sometimes exceeded its performance.

Mice treated with whale oil developed thicker, denser hair follicles. Early human trials are now underway. For Shioda, this shows the breadth of whale oil's possibilities: "We started with metabolic health, but it may also become a functional ingredient in entirely different fields."

Preventive Medicine and Marine Vitamins

As Professor Kazunaga Yazawa of Waseda University underlined, the real significance of these findings lies in a shift from treatment to prevention. "My life's work has been preventive medicine through food," he said. Unlike pharmaceuticals, nutrition offers tools for delaying the onset of disease rather than simply responding to it.

Yazawa coined the term "marine vitamins" to describe compounds like balenine and whale-derived omega-3s. They may not fit the textbook definition of vitamins, but, he argued, they act in similar ways — essential, irreplaceable, and supportive of many bodily functions.

These nutrients, he noted, can help counter frailty, a condition of declining strength and resilience that affects not just the elderly but younger generations as well. "Poor diet and unbalanced nutrition can trigger frailty in children and adults, too," he said. "Marine vitamins are powerful tools against that."

From Lab to Table

The discussion also turned to how whale products might be reintroduced into everyday diets. School lunches once served whale meat in dishes like tatsuta-age (a style of deep-frying), but modern tastes require softer, more versatile options.

Researchers suggested minced meat, hamburger patties, or even powdered whale for use in snacks and rice seasonings. Gluten-free whale bread has already been developed as a potential emergency food, showing how tradition and innovation can converge.

Looking Forward

*Kazunaga Yazawa speaking at the media seminar (©JAPAN Forward)*

The scientists acknowledged that whale oil supplements are not yet commercially available, and that more rigorous human studies will be needed before claims can be firmly established. But they were optimistic. With Japan facing the dual challenges of an aging society and rising lifestyle-related diseases, whale products could find a place not only as cultural heritage but as part of a national health strategy.

As Yazawa concluded, "Whale products are not relics of the past. They are resources for the future of preventive medicine. If used wisely, they can improve quality of life, delay disease, and help us meet the challenges of an aging population."

Author: Daniel Manning