Borage Oil
Commonly used for
Women's Health
Where to Buy
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The cheapest product is usually low quality, but more expensive doesn’t always mean better.
What is it? / Overview
As the most concentrated common botanical GLA source, borage oil supplies anti-inflammatory prostaglandin precursors on the same rationale -- and with the same limited human trial evidence -- as evening primrose oil, but carries an additional liver-safety concern from pyrrolizidine alkaloids in unrefined product.
How is it used? / Administration
Form: Borago officinalis seed oil, the most concentrated common GLA source (~20-24% GLA) -- choose products certified pyrrolizidine-alkaloid (PA)-free
Typical dose studied: 1-3 g/day
Timing: With food
Ships trigger-empty -- primarily useful so the platform can screen for the PA-hepatotoxicity and liver-condition contraindications if a user reports taking it; efficacy evidence is as weak as evening primrose oil's.
How well does it work? / Evidence
? Emerging / limited evidence
Who should avoid it?
Avoid with: End-stage liver disease / Cirrhosis; NAFLD / MASLD — Fatty liver disease; Breastfeeding; Epilepsy / Seizure disorder; Bleeding disorder / Coagulopathy
Interacts with: Anticoagulants, antiplatelets -- theoretical additive bleeding risk; Other hepatotoxic drugs -- additive risk if the product isn't PA-free certified
Already taking it? Confirm the specific product is certified pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-free -- unrefined borage oil can carry hepatotoxic PAs, which is the key differentiator from evening primrose oil.
Research & references
Sharifi M et al. (2024). The Effect of Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil on Inflammatory Diseases: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. Bayles B, Usatine R (2009). Evening Primrose Oil. American Family Physician.
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