RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS
ANTI-INFLAMATORY ACTIVITIES
de La Puerta Vazquez R et al Spain concluded that evening primrose oil
could be considered as a valuable strategy in preventing the
generation of some inflammatory mediators. [26]
BLOOD FLOW
Ford I et al Scotland found that evening primrose oil could improve
blood flow and nerve function in their studies. [27]
SKIN HEALTH
Rahbeeni F et al South Africa Daily evening primrose oil
supplementation reduced the sensitivity of skin to radiation-induced
moist desquamation but did not alter tumour sensitivity to radiation.
[29]
Yoon S et al Korea concluded that evening primrose oil could be highly
effective in the treatment of a grossly noninflammatory type of atopic
dermatitis. [28]
Head RJ et al Switzerland found that gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may
prevent the deficit in NCV indirectly, possibly by its role as a precursor
of vasodilatory prostaglandins in their studies. Gamma linolenic acid is
the active component of evening primrose oil.
HOME
References
1. Joe LA, Hart LL. Evening primrose oil in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Pharmacother
1993;27:1475-7 [review].2. Dippneaar N, Booyens J, Fabbri D, Katzeff IE. The reversibility of
cancer: evidence that malignancy in melanoma cells is gamma linolenic acid
deficiency-dependent. S Afr Med J 1982;62:505-9.3. Pritchard GA, Mansel RE. The effects of
essential fatty acids on the growth of breast cancer and melanoma. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty
Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine. Horrobin DF (ed). New York: Alan R Liss,
1990, 379-90.4. Lee JH, Sugano M. Effects of linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid on
7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. Nutr Rep Int 1986;34:1041.5.
Naidu MRC, Das UN, Kshan A. Intratumoral gamma-linolenic acid therapy of human gliomas.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1992;45:181-4.6. Van der Merwe CF, Booyens J. Oral
gamma-linolenic acid in 21 patients with untreatable malignancy. An ongoing pilot open
clinical trial. Br J Clin Pract 1987;41:907-5.7. McIllmurray MB, Turkie W. Controlled trial of
gamma linolenic in Duke's C colorectal cancer. Br Med J 1987;294:1260.8. Ishikawa T,
Fujiyama Y, Igarashi O, et al. Effects of gammalinolenic acid on plasma lipoproteins and
apolipoproteins. Atherosclerosis 1989;75:95-04.9. Boberg M, Vessby B, Selinus I. Effects of
dietary supplementation with n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on serum
lipoproteins and platelet function in hypertriglyceridaemic patients. Acta Med Scand
1986;220:153-60.10. Yoshimoto-Furuie K, Yoshimoto K, Tanaka T, et al. Effects of oral
supplementation with evening primrose oil for six weeks on plasma essential fatty acids and
uremic skin symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Nephron 1999;81:151-9.11. Tamimi NA, Mikhail
AI, Stevens PE. Role of gamma-linolenic acid in uraemic pruritus. Nephron 1999;83:170-1
[letter].12. Vaddadi KS, Gilleard CJ. Essential fatty acids, tardive dyskinesia, and schizophrenia.
In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine. Horrobin DF
(ed). New York: Alan R Liss, 1990, 333-43.13. 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;2:259-64.14. Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et
al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with gamma-linolenic acid. Diabetes Care
1993;16:8–15.
15. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acid metabolism in diseases of connective tissue with special
reference to scleroderma and to Sjogren’s syndrome. Med Hypotheses 1984;14:233-47.6.
Horrobin DF, Campbell A. Sjogren’s syndrome and the sicca syndrome: the role of
prostaglandin E1 deficiency. Treatment with essential fatty acids and vitamin C. Med
Hypotheses 1980;6:225-32.17. Vaddadi KS, Gilleard CJ. Essential fatty acids, tardive dyskinesia,
and schizophrenia. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical
Medicine, ed. DF Horrobin. New York: Alan R Liss, 1990, 333-43.18. Manku MS, Horrobin, DF,
Morse NL, et al. Essential fatty acids in the plasma phospholipids of patients with atopic eczema.
Br J Derm 1984;110:643.19. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acids in clinical dermatology. J Am
Acad Dermatol 1989;20:1045-53.20. Mansel RE, Pye JK, Hughes LE. Effects of essential fatty
acids on cyclical mastalgia and noncyclical breast disorders. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids:
Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine, ed. DF Horrobin. New York: Alan R Liss, 1990,
557-66.21. Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with
gamma-linolenic acid. Diabetes Care 1993;16:8-15.22. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acid
metabolism in diseases of connective tissue with special reference to scleroderma and to
Sjogren's syndrome. Med Hypotheses 1984;14:233-47.24. Vaddadi KS. The use of
gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and
schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6:375-9.
25. Holman CP, Bell AFJ. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic
schizophrenia. J Orthomol Psychiatr 1983;12:302-4.[26] Metabolism. 2004 Jan;53(1):59-65[27]
Metabolism. 2001 Aug;50(8):868-75.[28] Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002
Jan-Feb;15(1):20-5.[29] Int J Radiat Biol. 2000 Jun;76(6):871-7.[30] Breast. 2000 Feb;9(1):35-6.
[31] Auton Neurosci. 2004 Mar 31;111(1):57-65 [32] Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002
Nov;187(5):1389-94.
ANTI-INFLAMATORY ACTIVITIES
de La Puerta Vazquez R et al Spain concluded that evening primrose oil
could be considered as a valuable strategy in preventing the
generation of some inflammatory mediators. [26]
BLOOD FLOW
Ford I et al Scotland found that evening primrose oil could improve
blood flow and nerve function in their studies. [27]
SKIN HEALTH
Rahbeeni F et al South Africa Daily evening primrose oil
supplementation reduced the sensitivity of skin to radiation-induced
moist desquamation but did not alter tumour sensitivity to radiation.
[29]
Yoon S et al Korea concluded that evening primrose oil could be highly
effective in the treatment of a grossly noninflammatory type of atopic
dermatitis. [28]
Head RJ et al Switzerland found that gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may
prevent the deficit in NCV indirectly, possibly by its role as a precursor
of vasodilatory prostaglandins in their studies. Gamma linolenic acid is
the active component of evening primrose oil.
HOME
References
1. Joe LA, Hart LL. Evening primrose oil in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Pharmacother
1993;27:1475-7 [review].2. Dippneaar N, Booyens J, Fabbri D, Katzeff IE. The reversibility of
cancer: evidence that malignancy in melanoma cells is gamma linolenic acid
deficiency-dependent. S Afr Med J 1982;62:505-9.3. Pritchard GA, Mansel RE. The effects of
essential fatty acids on the growth of breast cancer and melanoma. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty
Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine. Horrobin DF (ed). New York: Alan R Liss,
1990, 379-90.4. Lee JH, Sugano M. Effects of linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid on
7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. Nutr Rep Int 1986;34:1041.5.
Naidu MRC, Das UN, Kshan A. Intratumoral gamma-linolenic acid therapy of human gliomas.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1992;45:181-4.6. Van der Merwe CF, Booyens J. Oral
gamma-linolenic acid in 21 patients with untreatable malignancy. An ongoing pilot open
clinical trial. Br J Clin Pract 1987;41:907-5.7. McIllmurray MB, Turkie W. Controlled trial of
gamma linolenic in Duke's C colorectal cancer. Br Med J 1987;294:1260.8. Ishikawa T,
Fujiyama Y, Igarashi O, et al. Effects of gammalinolenic acid on plasma lipoproteins and
apolipoproteins. Atherosclerosis 1989;75:95-04.9. Boberg M, Vessby B, Selinus I. Effects of
dietary supplementation with n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on serum
lipoproteins and platelet function in hypertriglyceridaemic patients. Acta Med Scand
1986;220:153-60.10. Yoshimoto-Furuie K, Yoshimoto K, Tanaka T, et al. Effects of oral
supplementation with evening primrose oil for six weeks on plasma essential fatty acids and
uremic skin symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Nephron 1999;81:151-9.11. Tamimi NA, Mikhail
AI, Stevens PE. Role of gamma-linolenic acid in uraemic pruritus. Nephron 1999;83:170-1
[letter].12. Vaddadi KS, Gilleard CJ. Essential fatty acids, tardive dyskinesia, and schizophrenia.
In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine. Horrobin DF
(ed). New York: Alan R Liss, 1990, 333-43.13. 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;2:259-64.14. Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et
al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with gamma-linolenic acid. Diabetes Care
1993;16:8–15.
15. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acid metabolism in diseases of connective tissue with special
reference to scleroderma and to Sjogren’s syndrome. Med Hypotheses 1984;14:233-47.6.
Horrobin DF, Campbell A. Sjogren’s syndrome and the sicca syndrome: the role of
prostaglandin E1 deficiency. Treatment with essential fatty acids and vitamin C. Med
Hypotheses 1980;6:225-32.17. Vaddadi KS, Gilleard CJ. Essential fatty acids, tardive dyskinesia,
and schizophrenia. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical
Medicine, ed. DF Horrobin. New York: Alan R Liss, 1990, 333-43.18. Manku MS, Horrobin, DF,
Morse NL, et al. Essential fatty acids in the plasma phospholipids of patients with atopic eczema.
Br J Derm 1984;110:643.19. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acids in clinical dermatology. J Am
Acad Dermatol 1989;20:1045-53.20. Mansel RE, Pye JK, Hughes LE. Effects of essential fatty
acids on cyclical mastalgia and noncyclical breast disorders. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids:
Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine, ed. DF Horrobin. New York: Alan R Liss, 1990,
557-66.21. Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with
gamma-linolenic acid. Diabetes Care 1993;16:8-15.22. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acid
metabolism in diseases of connective tissue with special reference to scleroderma and to
Sjogren's syndrome. Med Hypotheses 1984;14:233-47.24. Vaddadi KS. The use of
gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and
schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6:375-9.
25. Holman CP, Bell AFJ. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic
schizophrenia. J Orthomol Psychiatr 1983;12:302-4.[26] Metabolism. 2004 Jan;53(1):59-65[27]
Metabolism. 2001 Aug;50(8):868-75.[28] Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002
Jan-Feb;15(1):20-5.[29] Int J Radiat Biol. 2000 Jun;76(6):871-7.[30] Breast. 2000 Feb;9(1):35-6.
[31] Auton Neurosci. 2004 Mar 31;111(1):57-65 [32] Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002
Nov;187(5):1389-94.
It is believed that evening primrose oil supplement provides significant benefit to people suffering from
rheumatoid arthritis.1. GLA may also have anticancer activity in vitro 2-7. Evening primrose oil may be
able to lower cholesterol levels in some people 8-9. Evening primrose oil supplement may improve skin
itching, redness and dryness associated with kidney dialysis.10 11
Linoleic acid, a common fatty acid found in nuts and seeds and most vegetable oils (including evening
primrose oil), should theoretically be converted to PGE1. Evening primrose oil is found primarily in
supplements. Its presumed active ingredient, gamma linolenic acid, can also be found in black currant
seed oil and borage oil supplements.
Supplementation with evening primrose oil may help people with these conditions: premenstrual
syndrome, diabetes, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, eczema, and other skin
conditions12-23.
Aging, glucose intolerance, high dietary fat intake, and other problems may cause at least partially
gamma linolenic acid-deficiency. Supplemental gamma linolenic acid intake from evening primrose oil,
black currant seed oil, or borage oil may improve the deficiency. Moreover, intake of evening primrose oil
may lead to symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy 22-25.
rheumatoid arthritis.1. GLA may also have anticancer activity in vitro 2-7. Evening primrose oil may be
able to lower cholesterol levels in some people 8-9. Evening primrose oil supplement may improve skin
itching, redness and dryness associated with kidney dialysis.10 11
Linoleic acid, a common fatty acid found in nuts and seeds and most vegetable oils (including evening
primrose oil), should theoretically be converted to PGE1. Evening primrose oil is found primarily in
supplements. Its presumed active ingredient, gamma linolenic acid, can also be found in black currant
seed oil and borage oil supplements.
Supplementation with evening primrose oil may help people with these conditions: premenstrual
syndrome, diabetes, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, eczema, and other skin
conditions12-23.
Aging, glucose intolerance, high dietary fat intake, and other problems may cause at least partially
gamma linolenic acid-deficiency. Supplemental gamma linolenic acid intake from evening primrose oil,
black currant seed oil, or borage oil may improve the deficiency. Moreover, intake of evening primrose oil
may lead to symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy 22-25.
Evening Primrose Oil
Benefits
updated Sept 11 2005
zhion@zhion.com
Benefits
updated Sept 11 2005
zhion@zhion.com
| Evening primrose oil (EPO) contain gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid that the body converts to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). PGE1 has anti-inflammatory properties and may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. |
