Is Hydrogenated vegetable oil Safe for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
For people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Hydrogenated vegetable oil is worth limiting or using with caution both during a flare and in remission. A vegetable oil that has been chemically processed to make it more solid, which can include trans fats.
Status for MS
Why this rating?
A vegetable oil that has been chemically processed to make it more solid, which can include trans fats. These fats are generally recommended in moderation for joint and autoimmune conditions.
People who are sensitive to this ingredient may notice inflammation or pain. Individual responses vary, so this symptom category does not replace the condition-specific rating above.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is not part of the clinical review. Ratings above are unchanged.
What hydrogenated oil is
Hydrogenation adds hydrogen to a liquid vegetable oil to make it more solid and more stable, which is useful in shortening, margarine, baked goods and frying. The important distinction is between fully hydrogenated oil and partially hydrogenated oil. Partial hydrogenation is the process that creates artificial trans fat, and it is the type the FDA acted against.
What the FDA has done
In 2015 the FDA made a final determination that partially hydrogenated oils are not generally recognized as safe for use in food. Manufacturers could no longer add them to foods after June 18, 2018, and foods made before then could stay in distribution until January 1, 2020, with extended dates for a small number of petitioned uses that ended on January 1, 2021. As a result, partially hydrogenated oils are largely gone from the American food supply, although imported foods and older stock are worth a look.
Reading a label
Under FDA rules, a serving with less than 0.5 gram of trans fat can be listed as 0 g, so the FDA advises that a product listing partially hydrogenated oil in its ingredients might contain small amounts of trans fat even when the label says 0. Our rating, which is strictest for rheumatoid arthritis, reflects the general advice to limit trans fats and processed fats. Read the ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oil, and note that fully hydrogenated oil is a different ingredient with a different profile.
How Hydrogenated vegetable oil is rated across conditions
The same ingredient can mean different things depending on the condition. These are the ratings for every condition that has a guide for Hydrogenated vegetable oil.
| Condition | During a flare | In remission |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Hashimoto's Thyroiditis | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Graves' Disease | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | Avoid | Avoid |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Lupus (SLE) | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
Related ingredients
Same ingredient family or way of affecting the body.
Other conditions
- Is Hydrogenated vegetable oil safe for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
- Is Hydrogenated vegetable oil safe for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
- Is Hydrogenated vegetable oil safe for Graves' Disease?
- Is Hydrogenated vegetable oil safe for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?
- Is Hydrogenated vegetable oil safe for Lupus (SLE)?
Sources
Published sources
- Calder 2017 — literature
Clinical review
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, MSc Nutrition, Certified Naturopath & Nutritionist — last reviewed September 25, 2026.
This is general dietary information, not medical advice. Talk to your care team about your individual triggers.
Want to check a full product against your conditions?
Scan a barcode with FoodSage to see Hydrogenated vegetable oil and every other ingredient checked against Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and any second condition you set. Learn about FoodSage.
