Primrose Oil (EPO) is an oil extracted from the seed of the evening primrose plant which contains a high amount of it's active ingredient, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). EPO has been studied and findings reported in scientific literature for the treatment in humans of many conditions including eczema, multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), rheumatoid arthritis and postviral fatigue syndrome.

 Many people think all fats are bad for you but this is not necessarily true. A small amount of the right type of fat is beneficial and very necessary. Fats are made up of compounds called fatty acids.  GLA is a fatty acid which can be synthesised from the fatty acid linoleic acid in the body.  Linoleic acid is found in high amounts in vegetable oils.

 On its own, linoleic acid has limited functions in the body.  It requires metabolism to GLA, which can then be converted either immediately to prostaglandins or to another fatty acid, arachidonic acid, which in turn is used to produce prostaglandins of a different type.

 Prostaglandins are hormone-like compounds which help inhibit or reduce inflammation, platelet aggregation, cholesterol synthesis, blood vessel tone and the formation of abnormal cells. The prostaglandins produced directly from GLA also help maintain salt and water balance, insulin secretion, nerve conduction and gastrointestinal function. GLA also aids immune system function.

The conversion of linoleic acid to GLA is slow and can be inhibited by a number of factors including stress, aging, viruses, blood sugar disorders, exposure to pollution, smoking, too much alcohol, radiation and deficiencies of some vitamins and minerals.  With some disorders, eg eczema, an inability to convert essential fatty acids from one step to another may exist.  It seems that there is a defect in the function of the enzyme which converts linoleic acid to GLA.

A similar defect in the metabolism of fatty acids has been found in women suffering from premenstrual tension (one symptom of PMS). It is hypothesised that this abnormal fatty acid metabolism could lead to an increased sensitivity to hormones of the reproductive cycle, and that supplementation with GLA would facilitate normal metabolism of these fatty acids. The extra GLA provided by Evening Primrose Oil will also assist the body's conversion of essential fatty acids to prostaglandins and may help balance the hormones that contribute to PMS.

 It is also suggested that there is an altered essential fatty acid metabolism in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Suryaprabha et al (1991) found significantly decreased levels of arachidonic acid in blood plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.  Prostaglandins produced from the fatty acids of EPO are anti-inflammatory. They may also competitively inhibit the synthesis of the more pro-inflammatory prostaglandins which are involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

 In diabetes there is a disorder of essential fatty acid metabolism and possibly an increased requirement for them.  This may be an important factor in the development of diabetic complications such as damage to the retina, kidneys, peripheral nerves and cardiovascular system.  A seven-centre clinical study found that diabetic induced neuropathy improved during 12 months of GLA treatment and deteriorated during the year on placebo.

Controlled trials over the last few years have indicated an improvement in atopic eczema in those patients taking EPO.  These patients showed less inflammation, dryness, scaling and overall severity compared to controls.

 Evening Primrose Oil `short circuits' the problem of converting linoleic acid to GLA by providing a source of gamma-linolenic acid.  This ready made GLA provides a source for the production of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.  EPO is a favourable source of gamma linolenic acid and does not contain saturated fatty acids which are detrimental to health and which interfere with the metabolism and biological activity of gamma linolenic acid.

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