The Many Uses of GLA

References

Evening primrose and borage seed oils are rich in gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a precursor to natural chemicals in the body, including hormone-like prostaglandins.

The proportional amount of GLA of the essential fatty acids (EFAs) in evening primrose oil (EPO) and borage oil may have distinct benefits in certain health conditions including inflammation, skin conditions, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and more. Women with PMS have been shown to have impaired conversion of linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid) to GLA.¹ Consequently, researchers have studied EPO as a potential way to reduce PMS symptoms. Many, but not all, studies have found it to be efficacious.^2,3,4 It seems to work best when used over several menstrual cycles, and may be more helpful in women with PMS who also experience breast tenderness or fibrocystic breast disease.⁵

EPO may also have benefits in the areas of pregnancy and lactation. Researchers at Tulane University compared the efficacy of a combination of EPO and fish oil, magnesium oxide or placebo in preventing preeclampsia, a toxic condition of pregnancy in which there is increased blood pressure, kidney damage and edema.⁶ After six months, the group receiving the EFA supplement had a significantly lower incidence of edema. In another study, researchers provided lactating women with EPO or placebo for eight months; supplementation increased total fat and EFA contents of the milk, offsetting the decline seen in the placebo group.⁷

Inflammation

A substance known as leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a proinflammatory substance produced by the body; accordingly, if production of LTB4 is reduced, inflammation is reduced. Research on healthy adults demonstrated borage oil (480 mg/d to 1,500 mg/d) can inhibit the production of LTB4.⁸ Similar effects were seen with black currant seed oil as the GLA source.⁹

Well-controlled clinical studies have demonstrated that consumption of GLA has resulted in an improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers.¹⁰ A review of medical research revealed that clinical trials in which GLA was used to treat RA resulted in improvements, evaluated by duration of morning stiffness, joint pain and swelling, and the ability to reduce other medications.¹¹ GLA seems to work by reducing the production or activity of certain inflammatory substances, or substances that lead to inflammation. This includes T-cell activation and production of interleukin-2,¹² as well as production of protein kinase C¹³ and prostaglandins.¹⁴

Skin conditions

Skin conditions including infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (ISD), atopic or allergic dermatitis (AD), eczema and acne have been shown to respond well to treatment with GLA products. ISD patients treated daily with topically applied borage oil, containing 24 percent GLA, were free of all skin symptoms within four weeks.¹⁵ And a comparative study of borage oil versus palm seed oil (placebo) in AD patients found significant positive skin changes.¹⁶ Similar benefits were achieved in AD patients using 6 g/d of EPO¹⁷ and other dose levels as well.¹⁸

In regards to eczema, researchers have found many people with the condition have an impaired ability to convert linoleic acid to GLA and that the lack of GLA may be a causative factor in their condition.^19,20 In a number of studies using EPO to treat eczema, both patient and doctor scores showed a highly significant improvement.²¹ Beneficial results have also been seen in infants and children.²²

GLA also has been used successfully in a number of dermatological conditions including various types of dermatitis.^23,24 Of special interest to acne sufferers, GLA is also able to suppress androgen activity,²⁵ which may show benefits similar to vitamin A and zinc.

Gene Bruno is the Dean of Academics and a faculty member of Huntington College of Health Sciences (HCHS). HCHS is an accredited distance learning institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a diploma program in nutrition. To learn more, visit www.HCHS.edu or call (800) 290-4226.

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“The Many Uses of GLA” References

1. Horrobin DF et al. J Nutr Med. 2:259-64, 1991.

2. Massil H, O’Brien PMS, Brush MG. “A double blind trial of Efamol evening primrose oil in premenstrual syndrome.” 2nd International Symposium on PMS, Kiawah Island, 1987.

3. Casper R. “A double blind trial of evening primrose oil in premenstrual syndrome.” 2nd International Symposium on PMS, Kiawah Island, 1987.

4. Collins A et al. Obstet Gynecol. 81:93-98, 1993.

5. McFayden IJ et al. Br J Clin Pract. 46:161-64, 1992.

6. D'Almeida A et al. Women Health. 19(2-3):117-31, 1992.

7. Cant A, Shay J, Horrobin DF. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 37(6):573-9, 1991.

8. Chilton-Lopez. J Immunol. 156(8):2941-7, 1996.

9. Ziboh VA, Fletcher MP. Am J Clin Nutr. 55(1):39-45, 1992.

10. Vassilopoulos D. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 83(3):237-44, 1997.

11. Rothman D, DeLuca P, Zurier RB. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 25(2):87-96, 1995.

12. Williams WV, Rosenbaum H, Zurier RB. Pathobiology. 64(1):27-31, 1996.

13. Rossetti RG et al. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 76(3 Pt 1):220-4, 1995.

14. Watson J et al. Br J Rheumatol. 32(12):1055-8, 1993.

15. Tollesson A, Frithz A. Acta Derm Venereol. 73(1):18-20, 1993.

16. Bahmer FA, Schafer J. Kinderarztl Prax. 60(7):199-202, 1992.

17. Schafer L, Kragballe K. Lipids. 26(7):557-60, 1991.

18. Kerscher MJ, Korting HC. Clin Investig. 70(2):167-71, 1992.

19. Manku MS et al. Prostaglandins Leukot Med. 9(6):615-28, 1982.

20. Lindskov R, Holmer G. Allergy. 47(5):517-21, 1992.

21. Morse PF et al. Br J Dermatol. 121(1):75-90, 1989.

22. Fiocchi A et al. J Int Med Res. 22(1):24-32, 1994.

23. Andreassi M et al. J Int Med Res. 25(5):266-74, 1997.

24. Borrek S et al. Klin Padiatr. 209(3):100-4, 1997.

25. Liao S. J Formos Med Assoc. 93(9):741-51, 1994.