Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil and GLA
Evening primrose and borage oils supply GLA, an omega-6 fat. A Cochrane review found no eczema benefit, and NCCIH says evidence is not enough for any condition.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What is Evening primrose, borage and GLA oils good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Source of GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid
Established roleEvening primrose and borage seed oils contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fat. They are not omega-3 oils.
Supplements: Being a source of GLA is a description of the oil, not a proven health benefit; the body makes GLA from dietary linoleic acid.
Eczema (tested, no benefit shown)
Preliminary or mixedOral evening primrose and borage oils were thought to help eczema because of GLA, but a Cochrane review of 27 studies found no significant improvement over placebo.
Supplements: Reviews conclude oral evening primrose and borage oil are not effective for eczema.
Rheumatoid arthritis pain (limited)
Preliminary or mixedA Cochrane herbal review suggested GLA oils may reduce pain in rheumatoid arthritis, with limited data.
Supplements: Limited and unconfirmed; a separate review found no consistent evidence.
Menopause hot flashes (mixed)
Preliminary or mixedA 2024 meta-analysis found lower hot-flash severity but no difference in frequency or duration, and called the evidence insufficient.
Supplements: Insufficient for firm conclusions.
PMS and breast pain (no benefit shown)
Preliminary or mixedReviews found no benefit over placebo for PMS, and NCCIH says it is probably no better than placebo for breast pain.
Supplements: No benefit shown.
Late pregnancy and cervical ripening (inconsistent)
Preliminary or mixedResults for starting labor are inconsistent between oral and vaginal use and between trials; long-term safety is not established.
Supplements: Inconsistent; use only under midwife or doctor guidance.
Acne (one small trial)
Preliminary or mixedOne 10-week trial of 45 people reported fewer acne lesions with borage oil, but it is a single small study.
Supplements: Promising but limited.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Root causes (1)
- Medication Side EffectsDocumented risk
A study cited in the Cochrane eczema review suggests evening primrose oil may increase bleeding in people taking warfarin. Ask a pharmacist before combining.
What these oils are
NCCIH describes evening primrose oil as coming from the seeds of a plant native to North and South America, and says it contains omega-6 fatty acids, including GLA. [1] The Cochrane eczema review says both EPO and borage oil were thought to be beneficial because of their GLA content. [2] GLA is a different fat from the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA in fish oil; see Omega fatty acids explained and ALA, EPA and DHA. We did not find a separate NCCIH page for borage oil.What does the research show?
Evidence labels used on this page: no benefit shown, mixed, insufficient evidence, promising but limited. Each row names the oil, the population and the comparison. Changes in lab numbers are not the same as feeling or functioning better.| Question | What the source found | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Eczema (atopic dermatitis), oral EPO or borage oil | Cochrane review (2013) of 27 studies, 1,596 people (19 EPO studies, 8 borage oil studies): no significant improvement in global eczema symptoms compared with placebo [2] | No benefit shown |
| Breast pain | NCCIH: EPO is probably not more effective than a placebo [1] | No benefit shown |
| PMS | Two systematic reviews of herbs, vitamins and minerals (2009, 2011) found no benefit of EPO over placebo [3] [4] | No benefit shown |
| Menopause hot flashes | A 2024 meta-analysis found severity lower than placebo under 6 months but no difference in frequency or duration, and called the evidence insufficient [5] | Mixed |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | A Cochrane herbal review (2011): seven studies of GLA from EPO, borage seed oil or black currant seed oil suggested less pain, with more side effects that were not statistically different [6]. A separate review found no consistent evidence for any of the supplements it reviewed [7] | Promising but limited |
| Acne | One 10-week trial of 45 people with mild to moderate acne used borage oil containing 400 mg GLA (a study amount, not advice) and reported fewer lesions [8] | Promising but limited |
| Inflammatory conditions overall | A 2024 systematic review called the literature highly heterogeneous, with no strong recommendation possible [9] | Insufficient evidence |
Details for women's health uses, including pregnancy, are on Evening primrose oil: eczema, PMS, menopause and pregnancy evidence. For eczema care see Eczema.
Reading a label
Products differ in oil source, capsule size and GLA content. This page gives no amount to take. A clinician or pharmacist can help with a person's situation, and Quality testing and certifications explains how to check product quality.Frequently asked questions
Is evening primrose oil an omega-3?
No. NCCIH describes it as containing omega-6 fatty acids, including GLA. [1]
Does evening primrose oil help eczema?
A Cochrane review of 27 studies found oral EPO and borage oil were not effective for eczema. [2]
Does evening primrose oil help PMS or menopause?
Reviews found no benefit over placebo for PMS [4] and insufficient evidence for hot flashes. [5]
Is it safe with warfarin?
The Cochrane review mentions a study suggesting more bleeding with EPO in people taking warfarin. Ask a prescriber or pharmacist. [2]
Is borage oil better than evening primrose oil?
Proper evidence not found. We looked for head-to-head comparisons in the Cochrane review and PubMed; the sources we read compare each oil with placebo.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Side effects. NCCIH says EPO is probably safe for most adults by mouth, less is known for children, and the most common effects are stomach pain, nausea or diarrhea. [1]
- Blood thinners. The Cochrane authors cite another study finding EPO may increase bleeding in people taking warfarin (Coumadin). [2] Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining. See Medication interactions.
- Long-term use. The Cochrane studies were short. The authors mention a case report of possible inflammation, thrombosis and immune suppression after more than a year of use. [2]
- Before surgery. Tell the surgical team about every supplement; see Supplements before surgery.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. NCCIH says EPO may be safe but the evidence is not conclusive. [1] Talk to a midwife or doctor first; see Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Children. Less is known about safety in children. [1]
- Kidney and liver conditions. Proper evidence not found in the sources we read (NCCIH, Cochrane, PubMed reviews). Ask a clinician.
- Borage herb vs borage oil. A 2023 laboratory paper says pyrrolizidine alkaloids from borage consumed as herb and tea may pose a food safety risk. [10] Whether borage seed oil products contain them is not described in the sources we read, so check labels and ask a pharmacist; see Product quality and contamination.
References
- NCCIH, Evening Primrose Oil. Read 2026-10-22.
- Bamford JT et al. Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema. Cochrane systematic review, 2013. Read 2026-10-22.
- Herbs, vitamins and minerals in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review. 2009. Read 2026-10-22.
- Herbal treatments for alleviating premenstrual symptoms: a systematic review. 2011. Read 2026-10-22.
- Evening primrose oil for menopause hot flashes: systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane systematic review, 2011. Read 2026-10-22.
- Evidence for the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines in the management of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. 2011. Read 2026-10-22.
- Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. 2014. Read 2026-10-22.
- The effect of Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil on inflammatory diseases: a systematic review of clinical trials. 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in borage (Borago officinalis): comprehensive profiling and development of a validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification. 2023. Read 2026-10-22.