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Supplements/Fatty Acid

Evening Primrose Oil

GLA omega-6 for skin and PMS.

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Overview

GLA omega-6 for skin and PMS.

Natural sources
  • Endogenously produced or biosynthesized molecule
  • Standardized pharmaceutical- or food-grade supplement
  • Combined with cofactors that improve absorption or activity
Common forms
  • Capsule or softgel
  • Powder
  • Sublingual or buccal
  • Liposomal liquid

Mechanism of action

GLA converted to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

Pathways
  • · GLA converted to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

Effects on the body

Supports
Mixed for PMS

Organ system effects

Reproductive

Evening Primrose Oil has documented effects on female reproductive endocrinology and cycle regulation.

Skin

Evening Primrose Oil supports collagen synthesis, antioxidant defense, or barrier function in skin and integumentary tissues.

Evidence-based benefits

Mixed for PMS

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      Prescription medications (general)
      Always disclose Evening Primrose Oil use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.
      minor

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with
      • Collagen peptides
        Provides amino acid substrate for connective tissue synthesis.
      • Vitamin C
        Required cofactor for collagen hydroxylation.
      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      500–1300 mg GLA
      Best form
      Most evidence is based on the capsule or softgel form.
      Timing
      Consistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
      With food?
      Either with or without food.

      Where to buy

      Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon code supplementsch-20 is auto-applied at checkout. We don't endorse specific brands; verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Scientific evidence8Show studies
      Meta-analysisMed J Aust · 1990

      EPO for PMS

      Khoo SK, et al.

      7 trials

      Key findings

      No clear benefit over placebo.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — Mixed for PMS

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Evening Primrose Oil Mixed for PMS" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Evening Primrose Oil and "Mixed for PMS". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Evening Primrose Oil randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Evening Primrose Oil and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Evening Primrose Oil meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Evening Primrose Oil and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Evening Primrose Oil pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Evening Primrose Oil and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Evening Primrose Oil safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Evening Primrose Oil and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Evening Primrose Oil dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Evening Primrose Oil and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Evening Primrose Oil — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Evening Primrose Oil as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.

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