Borage Oil
Also known as: borage seed oil, starflower oil, Borago officinalis seed oil, GLA borage
Borage oil is pressed from the seeds of Borago officinalis and is the most concentrated common plant source of gamma-linolenic acid, typically around 20% GLA, roughly twice the level in evening primrose oil. It is used in skin, joint, and women's health formulas where a smaller oil volume per milligram of GLA is desirable. Because the borage plant contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, supplement-grade oil must be certified pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-free, and formulators should require that specification on the certificate of analysis.
Research summary
GLA is elongated to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, a precursor of series-1 prostaglandins and 15-HETrE, which modulate the inflammatory response.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 mg | 500–1,000 mg | — | — |
Dosed as mg whole oil; at about 20% GLA, 1,000 mg oil supplies roughly 200 mg GLA. The Cochrane review of eczema trials (8 borage oil studies) reported no meaningful symptom benefit but also no signal of harm; dose ranges were not extractable from the abstract and dose_max_studied is left null. Require a pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-free (PA-free) specification from the supplier. Take with food.
Standardization: Declare GLA content (commonly 18-24%); PA-free certification required
Source material: cold-pressed or refined borage seed, PA-free grade
As supplied: About 200 mg GLA per 1,000 mg oil
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Oil-based; softgel or liquid only. 1,000 mg softgels are standard.
Formulation notes
Same GLA-related cautions as evening primrose oil (phenothiazines, seizure disorders). Pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination is the main quality risk; specify PA-free oil and test incoming lots.
- Notable drug interactions
- Not for pregnancy
Sources
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