Borage
Borage oil is a source of GLA used for skin and inflammatory outcomes. Evidence varies by condition.
Overview
What is borage?
Borage is a herb. Borage seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid which may have anti-inflammatory effects in the human body.
Dosage
A typical dose of borage seed oil is 2–3 grams per day.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most borage research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Eczema accounts for 7 of 11 studies (64%).
- Acne accounts for 1 of 11 studies (9%).
- Asthma accounts for 1 of 11 studies (9%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Acne, Asthma, Obesity.
Safety
Oral borage seed oil is possibly safe when used at doses of up to 4 grams per day for 12 weeks. However, younger borage leaf, flower and seeds contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that may be actively harmful, even at low concentrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources12 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Eczema
7 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema2013
A Cochrane review of 27 EPO/BO eczema trials (1,596 participants) found oral borage and evening primrose oils did not significantly improve global eczema severity versus placebo (MD −2.22 on 0–100 scale, 95% CI −10.48 to 6.04).
2.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — Oral essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis – a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials2004
A meta-analysis of 19 GLA and 5 fish oil eczema trials found pooled effect size for GLA on overall severity was 0.15 (95% CI −0.02 to 0.32), indicating no clinically relevant benefit.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — Gamma-linolenic acid supplementation for prophylaxis of atopic dermatitis – a randomized controlled trial in infants at high familial risk2003
In 118 at-risk formula-fed infants, 100 mg/day GLA from borage oil for 6 months did not prevent atopic dermatitis but trended toward lower SCORAD severity at 1 year (p=0.09).
4.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial2003
In 140 adults and children with atopic eczema, 12 weeks of borage oil (920–1840 mg/day GLA) did not significantly improve SASSAD scores versus placebo (mean improvement difference 1.4 points favoring placebo, p=0.45).
5.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — Efficacy of borage oil in patients with atopic eczema – reply from author2000
An author reply regarding borage oil trials for atopic eczema reaffirmed that available controlled evidence does not support clinically meaningful benefit over placebo.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — Double-blind, multicentre analysis of the efficacy of borage oil in patients with atopic eczema1999
In 160 adults with moderate atopic eczema, 500 mg/day borage oil (≥23% GLA) for 24 weeks did not significantly reduce rescue steroid use or overall disease activity versus placebo, though a compliant subgroup showed some benefit.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Eczema — [Gamma-linolenic-acid-rich borage seed oil capsules in children with atopic dermatitis. A placebo-controlled double-blind study]1997
In 24 children with atopic dermatitis (ages 3–17), 360 mg/day GLA from borage seed oil for 10–14 weeks did not improve eczema severity versus corn oil placebo on objective Costa scores or patient diaries.
SupplementDEX Database · Acne
1 reference8.SupplementDEX Database: Acne — Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial2014
In 45 adults with mild-to-moderate acne, 12 weeks of combined omega-3 (2 g/day) and borage oil (400 mg GLA/day) significantly reduced inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts versus control.
SupplementDEX Database · Asthma
1 reference9.SupplementDEX Database: Asthma — Suppression of leukotriene B4 generation by ex-vivo neutrophils isolated from asthma patients on dietary supplementation with gammalinolenic acid-containing borage oil: possible implication in asthma2004
In asthma patients supplemented with 2 g/day GLA-rich borage oil for 12 months, ex vivo neutrophil LTB4 generation was suppressed and DGLA/15-HETrE rose, but asthma clinical scores did not improve significantly.
SupplementDEX Database · Obesity
1 reference10.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Borage oil intake by overweight young adults: no effect on metabolic rate; beneficial effects on plasma triglyceride and HDL cholesterol readings2021
In overweight young adults with a family history of obesity, 880 mg/day borage oil for 6 weeks did not raise resting metabolic rate or change BMI, but did lower triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol.
SupplementDEX Database · Periodontitis
1 reference11.SupplementDEX Database: Periodontitis — Pilot study of dietary fatty acid supplementation in the treatment of adult periodontitis2003
In 30 adults with periodontitis, 3000 mg/day borage oil for 12 weeks significantly reduced gingival inflammation (P<0.016) and probing depth versus placebo (P<0.044); fish oil showed similar trends.
Safety
1 reference12.Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in borage. See external sourceExternal source