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Research Progress on the Nutritional Metabolism, Regulatory Mechanisms, and Applications of Black Soldier Fly Oil

Author(s)

Xiaotian Tang1,2, Hui Wang2, Fei Wang2,*

Affiliation(s)

1College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou China 2Institute of Agricultural Products Processing, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae are increasingly studied as a resource insect because they grow quickly, utilize many organic residues, and generate biomass rich in protein and lipid. Among the products recovered from larvae, BSF oil is notable for its lauric-, palmitic-, oleic-, and linoleic-acid fractions, which are associated with oxidative resistance, nutritional value, and processing adaptability. This review summarizes the fatty acid features of BSF oil and discusses how substrate formulation, stocking density, temperature, moisture, developmental stage, and light exposure affect oil yield and lipid quality. The review then examines lipid deposition from physiological and molecular perspectives, focusing on fatty acid biosynthesis, lipid-reserve mobilization, and regulatory genes involved in lipid metabolism. Reported uses of BSF oil in feed, food processing, biodiesel, medical and health-related products, cosmetics, and daily chemical manufacturing are also evaluated. At present, wider industrial use is still restricted by heterogeneous substrates, insufficient quality specifications, limited safety evidence, and instability during processing. Future work should combine mechanistic studies with controlled rearing, oil refining and modification, and regulatory standardization, so that BSF oil can be used more reliably in high-value and large-scale applications.

Keywords

Black Soldier Fly; Oil; Metabolic Regulation; Animal Production and Food; Resource Utilization

References

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