Evening PrimroseEvening primrose oil (EPO), black currant seed
oil, and borage oil contain gamma linolenic acid (GLA),
a fatty acid that the body converts to a
hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1
(PGE1). PGE1 has anti-inflammatory properties and
may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel
dilator. Linoleic acid, a common fatty acid found
in nuts, seeds, and most vegetable oils (including
EPO), should theoretically convert to PGE1. But
many things can interfere with this conversion,
including disease, the aging process, saturated
fat, hydrogenated oils, blood sugar problems, and
inadequate vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and B
vitamins. Supplements that provide GLA circumvent
these conversion problems, leading to more
predictable formation of PGE1.1. In what
conditions might evening primrose oil be
supportive?
- atherosclerosis
- attention deficit disorder
- diabetes
- eczema
- fibrocystic
- breast disease
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Raynaud’s disease
- rheumatoid arthritis
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