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Fatty Acid

Evening Primrose Oil

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Evening Primrose Oil. Omega-6 source rich in GLA, used for atopic dermatitis and cyclical breast pain.

How it works. GLA converts to DGLA, producing anti-inflammatory PGE1.

What the research supports. 2 graded claims. Strongest: Modest improvement in cyclical breast pain (limited).

How much to take. Typical dose: 1000–3000 mg/d (8–10% GLA).

Side effects and interactions. 2 medication interactions listed. No serious side effects listed at normal doses.

Stacking. Pairs well with Collagen peptides, Vitamin C.

Common forms. Available as EPO standardized to GLA.

Key studies. 9 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Evening Primrose Oil. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Evening Primrose Oil. Omega-6 source rich in GLA, used for atopic dermatitis and cyclical breast pain.

Key compound: gamma-linolenic acidC18H30O2 · 278.4 g/mol

What it is

Omega-6 source rich in GLA, used for atopic dermatitis and cyclical breast pain.

Also called

EPOGLA

Food sources

Oenothera biennis seeds

Goals

How it works

GLA converts to DGLA, producing anti-inflammatory PGE1.

Pathways

  • PGE1 synthesis

Effects

  • +Skin barrier supports
  • ↓Cyclical breast pain (mild) decreases

What the research supports

Modest improvement in cyclical breast painlimited
Mixed for atopic dermatitislimited

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
1000–3000 mg/d (8–10% GLA)
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodEither with or without food.
Best formMost evidence is based on the epo standardized to gla form.
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Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • GI upset

Medication interactions

Anticoagulantsminor

Mild antiplatelet.

Antiseizure drugsmoderate

May lower threshold.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

  • Collagen peptidesProvides amino acid substrate for connective tissue synthesis.
  • Vitamin CRequired cofactor for collagen hydroxylation.

Common forms

  • EPO standardized to GLA

Key studies

9 studies cited in total.

PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — Modest improvement in cyclical breast pain ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

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

PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — Mixed for atopic dermatitis ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

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

PubMed: Evening Primrose Oil — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

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.

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