Evening primrose oil

Evening primrose oil is a medicinal oil derived from the evening primrose (Oenothera) plant. It is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega 6 essential fatty acid.

Potential uses

 * Treatment of food sensitivities in leaky gut
 * Candida

Notable studies

 * 1996, Cognitive behaviour therapy for the chronic fatigue syndrome. Evening primrose oil and magnesium have been shown to be effective (Full text)


 * 2004, The use of eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (Abstract)


 * 2005, In chronic fatigue syndrome, the decreased levels of omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids are related to lowered serum zinc and defects in T cell activation (Full text)


 * 2007, Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome) (Abstract)

Efamol marine

 * 1990, A placebo-controlled trial of n-3, n-6, essential fatty acids in the treatment of postviral fatigue syndrome (Abstract)


 * 1999, The role of essential fatty acids in chronic fatigue syndrome: A case‐controlled study of red‐cell membrane essential fatty acids (EFA) and a placebo‐controlled treatment study with high dose of EFA (Full text)
 * Found no overall benefit was found for efamol marine.

Costs and availability
Fatty acid blends containing evening primose oil invoice efamol marine, which adds fish oil and overall contains 57% v-linoleic acid, 7.2% GLA, and 3.6% EPAs and 2.4% DHA.