Objective Investigating the Regulatory Effects of camellia Oil with Different Aging Periods on the Growth Status and Gut Microbiota of SD Rats. Methods Healthy SPF-grade SD rats were selected and assigned to intervention groups receiving aged camellia oil for 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years, along with a control group. After 28 days of oral administration, gut microbiota structure, diversity, and metabolites were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) detection. Biological safety was assessed through body weight, food intake, and organ coefficients.Results There were no significant differences in body weight, food intake, or organ coefficients between the intervention groups and the control group; no abnormalities were observed in gross anatomical examination of organs. The 3-year camellia oil group significantly reduced gut microbiota α-diversity (P<0.05), while the 1-year and 5-year groups showed no significant effects. The 5-year camellia oil group exhibited significantly elevated levels of SCFAs including propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid. Compared to the 3-year group, its valeric acid and hexanoic acid levels reached extremely significant (P<0.01) and significant (P<0.05) levels, respectively. All groups contained 509 core operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Intervention groups exhibited reduced unique OTUs, with differential microbial functions enriched in secondary metabolite synthesis and carbon metabolism pathways.Conclusion: camellia oils aged for different durations showed no adverse effects on rats, and their regulation of the intestinal microbiota exhibited age-dependent effects. Among them, 5-year-aged camellia oil demonstrated the most optimal performance in enhancing SCFA levels and maintaining microbial community stability.