| |  | | Value of Borage Oil
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Upton Brady
Posted on: August 20, 2002
Please tell me the value of borage oil as an essential fatty acid by itself and in combination with flax oil, fish oil and Vitamin E.
Borage oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that the body usually does not make enough of. GLA is mostly used in a therapeutic way to treat a wide variety of conditions that are affected by prostaglandins, but it is also taken as a nutritional supplement by those who are deficient in GLA such as diabetics, older people or those suffering from stress, high cholesterol, or those with a history of alcohol abuse. Evening primrose seeds and blackcurrant seeds also contain GLA.
GLA belongs to the omega-6 class of essential fatty acids. Flax seed oil and fish oils contain fatty acids belonging to the omega-3 class of EFAs. Both the omega-3 and omega-6 types of fatty acids are important for normal body function.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant. It helps to prevent the breakdown of essential fatty acids.
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