Not all “cetyl myristoleate” is the same
The supplement market has muddied the term. Two mix-ups in particular are worth understanding before you buy.
“CMO” is not the same as cetyl myristoleate
Some products are sold as cerasomal cis-9-cetyl myristoleate, often shortened to “CMO.” The word cerasomal isn’t a standard chemistry term — it was coined by a manufacturer. CMO is described as an analog, meaning a similar molecule — not necessarily cetyl myristoleate itself. Independent analyses have reported finding little genuine cetyl myristoleate in some such products.
Cetyl myristate is a different molecule
A second, common mix-up: some manufacturers started from raw material high in myristic acid rather than myristoleic acid. Myristic acid is the saturated counterpart; esterified with cetyl alcohol it yields cetyl myristate — not cetyl myristoleate. Before precise testing methods were common, products like this were sometimes labelled and sold as cetyl myristoleate when they were, in fact, cetyl myristate.
What to look for
If you want genuine cetyl myristoleate, read the label, understand the difference between the names above, and favour products and brands that are clear about what they use. For a deeper comparison of cetyl myristoleate against other joint ingredients, see Cetyl-Myristoleate.com.
Background: CM8 facts · how it was discovered