Evening primrose oil

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Evening primrose oil supplement. Image: Open Food Facts

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.[1]

Potential uses[edit | edit source]

Theory[edit | edit source]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 1996, Cognitive behaviour therapy for the chronic fatigue syndrome. Evening primrose oil and magnesium have been shown to be effective[2] (Full text)
  • 2004, The use of eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome[3] (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[4] (Full text)
  • 2007, Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome)[5] (Abstract)

Efamol marine[edit | edit source]

  • 1990, A placebo-controlled trial of n-3, n-6, essential fatty acids in the treatment of postviral fatigue syndrome[6] (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[7] (Full text)
Found no overall benefit was found for efamol marine.

Risks and safety[edit | edit source]

Costs and availability[edit | edit source]

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.[7][4]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]