Perilla seed oil is the richest food source of plant omega-3 fat; its leaf carries separate anti-allergic compounds. It reliably raises plant omega-3 in blood cells, but blood-fat, inflammation, bone, joint, gut and thinking results stay modest or unrepeated. Conversion into fish forms is poor, so perilla complements rather than replaces marine oils. Seed allergy and rapid spoilage are real. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Red-cell α-linolenic acid | No established target; track change from own baseline | Confirms the oil is being absorbed and incorporated |
| Omega-3 Index (eicosapentaenoic plus docosahexaenoic acid) | 8–12% | Shows whether conversion is delivering usable long-chain omega-3 |
| Triglycerides | <80 mg/dL | Primary lipid endpoint responsive to α-linolenic acid |
| Apolipoprotein B | <80 mg/dL, or <60 mg/dL with established vascular disease | Catches the low-density lipoprotein rise seen in pooled α-linolenic acid trials |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | <0.5 mg/L | Tracks the inflammatory effect that α-linolenic acid trials consistently show |
| Platelet count and complete blood count | 150,000–400,000/µL | Baseline against which any bleeding tendency is judged |
| International normalised ratio | Within individual anticoagulation target, typically 2.0–3.0 | Detects potentiation of vitamin K antagonists |
| Serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b | Lower half of the adult reference range | The bone-resorption marker that moved in the 12-month perilla trial |
| Prostate-specific antigen | <1.0 ng/mL at age 40–50, <2.0 ng/mL thereafter | Addresses the unresolved prostate signal at high α-linolenic acid intake |
| Alanine aminotransferase | <25 U/L in men, <20 U/L in women | Confirms concentrated preparations are not stressing the liver |
Cadence: Fatty-acid panel, lipids, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein at 12 weeks, then every 6–12 months; international normalised ratio at 2 weeks after starting and after every dose change; prostate-specific antigen and liver enzymes annually