The Consumer Guide to Evening Primrose Oil

In this guide...
  Benefits and Uses
  Do Scientists Know How It Works?
  Safety
  EPO Books
  References
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Evening primrose oil (EPO) is among the richest sources of GLA (Gamma-linolenic acid)—a vital metabolic factor with indirect antiinflammatory effects. The body makes GLA from omega-6 fatty acids, which predominate in most cooking oils (e.g., corn, safflower, soy, and sunflower). In turn, the body uses GLA to make an anti-inflammatory messenger chemical (PGE-1). This important conversion process is blocked by high intake of saturated fats, or inadequate vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins, and becomes less efficient with age. And, some people cannot make adequate amounts of GLA from dietary fats. Nonetheless, more health problems in developed countries have been linked to dietary insufficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids than to a lack of the more common omega-6 fatty acids from which the body makes GLA.

Benefits and uses: Some people with fibrocystic breast disease, or inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease have received benefit from supplemental EPO.

However, EPO is not effective in treating all diseases with an inflammatory component, failing to offer benefit in multiple sclerosis, eczema, psoriasis or asthma.

Nor, despite persistent claims, does EPO appear to aid in improving most cases of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or childhood hyperactivity. In fact, EPO may be the most overrated treatment for PMS, which responds much better to supplemental amounts of specific vitamins and minerals.

 

Do scientists know how it works? EPO and other sources of GLA (borage and black currant seed oils) are potentially beneficial, because the body needs GLA to make a vital prostaglandin (hormone-like messenger chemical) called PG E-1, which helps moderate the body’s inflammation response. PG E-1 can alleviate excessive, damaging inflammation responses—whether as part of an allergic response, or an autoimmune disease like lupus, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis.

An essential fat called linoleic acid, found in vegetable oils, whole grains, beans, and other foods, is required to make GLA, and then PGE1. However, the multi-step metabolic pathway that transforms linoleic acid first into GLA, and then PGE1, can get blocked, with results that range from the irritating to the life threatening. Saturated fats, cholesterol and trans fatty acids (in partially hydrogenated oils) can block production of PGE-1. The standard American diet is full of these PGE-1 inhibitors. GLA is the next-to-the- last step in the process of turning linoleic acid into PGE-1. Therefore, by taking EPO, or other seed oils rich in GLA, one can bypass any blocks in the metabolic pathway, and produce all the PGE-1 needed.

A partial list of PGE-1’s functions and the diseases related to them, reveals why GLA and EPO have been extensively researched:

  • Inhibit blood clotting and cholesterol production (cardiovascular disease)
  • Reduce blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Inhibit inflammation response (diseases ending in "-itis")
  • Fix defective T lymphocyte immune cells (cancer, allergies, and infections)
  • Inhibit abnormal cell division (cancer)

 

Safety: Supplemental EPO is generally regarded as safe, but should not be undertaken without reason, or in neglect of intake of omega-3 fatty acids, lest an imbalance between these two complementary essential fats occur. Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA, and LNA) are obtained from fish, flax oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens.

EPO Books:

  • "Evening Primrose Oil" by Judy Graham
  • "Fats and Oils" by Udo Erasmus.

 
References:

  • Fukushima M, Matsuda T, Yamagishi K, Nakano M. Comparative hypocholesterolemic effects of six dietary oils in cholesterol-fed rats after long-term feeding. Lipids 1997 Oct;32(10):1069-74.
  • Cameron NE, Cotter MA. Metabolic and vascular factors in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes 1997 Sep;46 Suppl 2:S31- 7.
  • De La Cruz JP, Martin-Romero M, Carmona JA, Villalobos MA, Sanchez de la Cuesta F. Effect of evening primrose oil on platelet aggregation in rabbits fed an atherogenic diet. Thromb Res 1997 Jul 1;87(1):141-9.
  • Budeiri D, Li Wan Po A, Dornan JC. Is evening primrose oil of value in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome? Control Clin Trials 1996 Feb;17(1):60-8.
  • Arnold LE, Kleykamp D, Votolato NA, Taylor WA, Kontras SB, Tobin K. Gamma-linolenic acid for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: placebo-controlled comparison to D-amphetamine. Biol Psychiatry 1989 Jan 15;25(2):222-8.
  • Bates D, Fawcett PR, Shaw DA, Weightman D. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in treatment of acute remitting multiple sclerosis. Br Med J 1978 Nov 18;2(6149):1390-1.
  • Stenius-Aarniala B, Aro A, Hakulinen A, Ahola I, Seppala E, Vapaatalo H. Evening primose oil and fish oil are ineffective as supplementary treatment of bronchial asthma. Ann Allergy 1989 Jun;62(6):534-7.
  • Horrobin DF. The importance of gamma-linolenic acid and prostaglandin E1 in human nutrition and medicine. J Holistic Med 1981;3:118- 39.
  • Horrobin DF, Manku M, Brush M, et al. Abnormalities in plasma essential fatty acid levels in women with pre-menstrual syndrome and with non-malignant breast disease. J Nutr Med 1991;2:259-64.
  • Kleen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with gamma-linolenic acid. Diabetes Care 1993;16:8-15 [reviews].
  • Manku MS, Horrobin, DF, Morse NL, et al. Essential fatty acids in the plasma phospholipids of patients with atopic eczema. Brit J Derm 1984;110:643.

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