Supplement · Fatty acids & lipids
GLA oils (evening primrose & borage)
Also known as: Evening primrose oil, Borage oil, GLA
Omega-6 GLA oils taken for skin and PMS, with mixed and generally modest evidence.
- Evidence
- Silver· human data
- Sources cited
- 1
- Last reviewed
- 22 July 2026
Evening primrose and borage oils are sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, and are taken chiefly for skin conditions such as eczema and for premenstrual and breast-pain symptoms.
The evidence is mixed: reviews of eczema have been largely disappointing, while some find modest benefit for cyclical breast pain. Borage is the more concentrated GLA source. Overall a low-risk 'might help some people' option rather than a proven treatment.