| Ingredients | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
|
Calories
|
5 Calorie(s) |
|
Total Fat
|
0.5 Gram(s) |
|
Saturated Fat
|
0 Gram(s) |
|
Trans Fat
|
0 Gram(s) |
|
Polyunsaturated Fat
|
0 Gram(s) |
|
Monounsaturated Fat
|
0 Gram(s) |
|
Cholesterol
|
0 mg |
|
(seed)
|
500 mg |
| 385 mg | |
|
Linoleic Acid
(C18:2n-6, LA)
|
340 mg |
|
(18:3n-6, GLA)
|
45 mg |
|
(C18:1n-9, OA)
(Omega-9 Fatty Acids (Form: including Oleic Acid (Alt. Name: OA)) )
|
30 mg |
Gelatin Note: softgel, Glycerin, purified Water
Below is general information about the effectiveness of the known ingredients contained in the product Evening Primrose. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
Below is general information about the safety of the known ingredients contained in the product Evening Primrose. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Evening primrose oil has been used safely in doses up to 6 grams daily for up to 1 year (7566,7567,8926,12036,20512,49286,49360,109426). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of evening primrose oil when used topically. There is also insufficient reliable information available about the safety of evening primrose seed, flower, or leaf when used orally or topically.
CHILDREN: POSSIBLY SAFE
when evening primrose oil is used orally and appropriately, short-term.
In children up to 5 years of age, doses of evening primrose oil up to 3 grams daily have been used safely for 5 months (20512,49273), and 0.5 grams/kg daily has been used safely for 8 weeks (7570). In children up to 12 years of age, doses of 4-6 grams daily have been used safely for 3-5 months (7565,7566,20512,49286). ...when used topically and appropriately, short-term. In children 2-10 years of age, evening primrose oil has been applied to affected areas of the skin twice daily for up to 3 months (96718). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of evening primrose seed, flower, or leaf when used orally or topically.
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE
when evening primrose oil is used orally and appropriately.
In small studies of evening primrose oil for pre-eclampsia, 4 grams has been used orally daily for up to 10 weeks during pregnancy with apparent safety (1409,20525). Evening primrose oil has also been used safely during the last week of pregnancy to improve cervical ripening (20524,96717), although in one retrospective case series improvement was lacking and there was a trend toward prolonged labor, increased rates of arrest of descent, and increased oxytocin requirements (1411). Evening primrose oil has also been linked to a case report of petechiae and ecchymoses in a newborn infant whose mother took a total of 6.5 grams during the week before giving birth (16303); use with caution, especially in high doses.
LACTATION: POSSIBLY SAFE
when evening primrose oil is used orally.
Supplementation with evening primrose oil during lactation results in the secretion of high levels of the constituent gamma linolenic acid into breast milk (1982); however, this fatty acid is normally present in significant amounts in breast milk (11884).
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in food amounts. Edible oils containing high amounts of oleic acid are commonly used in foods (26466,90681,94452,101821,101824,101828,101830,101838). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of oleic acid when used as medicine.
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts found in foods. Dietary intake in amounts of 5% to 10% of daily calories are appropriate according to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) (23723). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of omega-6 fatty acids when used orally in medicinal amounts.
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when consumed by children over the age of 12 months as part of the diet in amounts between 5% to 10% of daily calories according to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) (23723).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: LIKELY SAFE
when consumed as part of the diet in amounts between 5% and 10% of daily calories according to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) (23723).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
when high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids are consumed in the diet.
Population research suggests that the highest maternal intakes of omega-6 fatty acids (15.2-47.6 grams or 137-428 kcal daily) during pregnancy is associated with a 2.4-times greater odds of giving birth to an infant below the 10th percentile for birth weight when compared with the lowest maternal intakes (0.4-5.7 grams daily) (96913). In addition, population research in women with a history of atopy suggests that the highest blood levels of omega-6 fatty acids during the second trimester is associated with an increased odds of having a child develop atopic dermatitis by age 4-6 years when compared with the lowest intakes (103309). There is insufficient reliable information available about supplemental omega-6 fatty acids; avoid using.
Below is general information about the interactions of the known ingredients contained in the product Evening Primrose. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
Theoretically, evening primrose oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
 Details
Evening primrose oil contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA). There is preliminary clinical evidence that GLA can reduce platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time (1979).
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Theoretically, evening primrose may increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP2C9 substrates.
Details
In vitro research shows that linoleic acid, a constituent of evening primrose oil, inhibits CYP2C9 (21017).
|
Theoretically, concomitant use of lithium with evening primrose oil might decrease lithium levels and effects.
Details
In a case report, a patient on a stable dose of lithium for 10 years experienced a reduction in lithium levels after taking evening primrose oil 500 mg daily. Baseline levels were 0.69 mmol/L, which decreased to 0.37 mmol/L after 2 months and 0.23 mmol/L after 3 months of use. Lithium levels increased within 6 weeks of discontinuing evening primrose oil, to 0.73 mmol/L; no clinical effects were noted (96715).
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Theoretically, evening primrose oil might increase the levels and effects of lopinavir.
Details
In a case report, an HIV patient who took evening primrose oil (Efamol) along with lopinavir/ritonavir experienced an increase in serum levels of lopinavir to 15.2 mg/L. Six weeks after discontinuing evening primrose oil, levels of lopinavir returned to the normal range of 5-10 mg/L. When re-challenged with evening primrose oil for a week, the patient's lopinavir levels increased from 6.69 to 8.11 mg/L. It is suspected that evening primrose oil increases levels of lopinavir by inhibiting cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which metabolizes lopinavir (93578). However, this effect has not been reported in other research.
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Theoretically, taking evening primrose oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of convulsions.
Details
Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is some concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines (88187). In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with GLA, although none experienced an actual seizure (21013). In another report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose oil 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures (21010). It is unclear whether evening primrose oil had any additive epileptogenic effects with the phenothiazines; there is no evidence that taking evening primrose oil alone causes seizures (88187).
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Theoretically, GLA might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet rugs.
Details
Animal and human research suggests that GLA reduces platelet aggregation (1979).
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Theoretically, oleic acid might increase the effects of antidiabetes drugs. Preliminary clinical research in patients with type 2 diabetes taking oral hypoglycemic drugs shows that eating a diet rich in oleic acid from olive oil decreases fasting blood glucose levels when compared to eating a diet rich in linoleic acid from sunflower oil (8132). It is unknown if taking oleic acid supplements would have this effect or if this change is clinically significant. Until more is known, use caution. Dose adjustment may be necessary. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
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Below is general information about the adverse effects of the known ingredients contained in the product Evening Primrose. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
General
...Orally and topically, evening primrose oil is generally well tolerated.
There is limited reliable information available regarding the safety or adverse effects of other parts of the plant.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Abdominal pain and distention, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting.
Dermatologic ...Orally, use of evening primrose oil has been associated with reports of skin rash and acne (9156,9794,49338). There is a case report of extensive but transient petechiae and purpuric ecchymoses in a newborn infant whose mother had consumed raspberry leaf tea and a total of 6.5 grams of evening primrose oil orally and vaginally during the week prior to delivery. The infant had a normal platelet count and no signs of hemorrhage, and was discharged healthy at 3 days of age (16303).
Gastrointestinal ...Gastrointestinal complaints, including abdominal pain, distension and fullness, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and flatulence are the most common adverse effects of evening primrose (8926,9794,20533,49188,49286,49339,49365,65864,88184,102556). Often these effects resolve with continued use. Altered taste has also been reported (49339).
Hematologic ...There is preliminary clinical evidence that evening primrose oil can decrease platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time. In a small study of patients with hyperlipidemia, taking evening primrose oil 3 grams daily for 4 months was associated with a 40% increase in bleeding time, and decreases in ADP- and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation of 50% and 60% respectively (1979). There is also a case report of diffuse ecchymoses and petechiae in a neonate whose mother had consumed 6.5 grams of evening primrose oil over the week prior to delivery (16303).
Neurologic/CNS
...Cases of dizziness (9794) and headache (88184) have been reported with evening primrose oil when used orally.
There is a report of seizures in a patient taking evening primrose oil and receiving anesthesia; however, the patient was also taking other drugs and it is therefore unclear if evening primrose was the cause (613). There is also concern that evening primrose oil might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, in patients with schizophrenia who are treated with phenothiazines. This is based on limited data from two studies published in the 1980s. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with evening primrose, although none experienced an actual seizure (21013). In the other report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose oil 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures (21010). There is no evidence that evening primrose taken alone, without medications known to lower the seizure threshold, can cause seizures (88187).
Other ...Weight gain has been reported in individuals receiving evening primrose oil (49338).
General
...Orally, GLA seems to be well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Mild gastrointestinal adverse effects, including belching, bloating, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting.
Gastrointestinal ...Orally, GLA may cause mild gastrointestinal effects such as dyspepsia, nausea, bloating, vomiting, soft stools, diarrhea, flatulence, and belching (7701,7702,8926,107927).
Hematologic ...Orally, GLA might prolong bleeding time (1979).
General ...Orally, oleic acid generally well tolerated when used as part of oils and fats in the diet (26466,90681,94452,101821,101824,101828,101830,101838). Temporary burning in the mouth or throat has occurred in some patients (101848).
Gastrointestinal ...Orally, oleic acid has caused temporary burning in the mouth or throat in some patients in one clinical study (101848).
General ...Orally, consuming omega-6 fatty acids in amounts found in foods is well tolerated.
Cardiovascular ...Dietary intake of the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid in amounts of 5% to 10% of daily calories is appropriate according to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) (23723). However, higher intake levels, especially when compared with omega-3 fatty acid intake, might be detrimental. For example, a higher ratio of dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to a lower ratio (66678). However, the American Heart Association Nutrition Subcommittee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism, the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, and the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, suggest that reduction of omega-6 fatty acids in the diet is unlikely to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system if replaced with saturated or trans-fatty acids (66692). Population research has found that higher intake of omega-6 fatty acids might be associated with hypertension and increased levels of plasma homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis (65498,66640,66642).
Musculoskeletal ...In epidemiological research, increased intake of omega-6 fatty acids was associated with elevated risk of fracture in the elderly (66662).
Neurologic/CNS ...In epidemiological research, an increased dietary ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids has been associated with an elevated risk of having a sleep disorder (107001).
Oncologic ...Some population research has found that high omega-6 fatty acid intake or blood levels are associated with an increased risk for cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer (3508,7824,66660,66664,66729).
Psychiatric ...In epidemiological research, adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had higher levels of omega-6 and lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells (48200). The role of omega-6 fatty acids in ADHD is unclear; it is possible that the low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and essential fatty acids in general may be playing a role. Also, higher levels of some omega-6 fatty acids in the body are associated with greater depressive symptomology and neuroticism (65815,66659). Higher concentrations of some omega-6 fatty acids in red blood cells of patients with schizophrenia are correlated with positive schizotypal trait measures in healthy adults (66635). This may be related to increased intake of omega-6 fatty acids in the diet of patients with schizophrenia (96916).
