Squalene

Tier 3 — weak evidence · Skin · Cardiovascular · Liver

A natural triterpene hydrocarbon abundant in shark liver oil, olive oil, and amaranth, and a major component of human sebum. Oral squalene (and its saturated form, squalane) supports skin barrier lipid synthesis and may modestly reduce LDL oxidation. Phytosqualene (plant-derived, olive or amaranth) is environmentally preferable to shark-derived products. Clinical evidence is limited but mechanistically plausible for dry skin, sebum balance, and as a cholesterol synthesis intermediate precursor.

Dose: 500–1000 mg olive- or amaranth-derived squalene daily