Evening Primrose Oil, commonly known as a beauty supplement for women, also offers numerous health benefits, particularly for hormonal health and skin care. But what exactly are the sources of these benefits? Have they been substantiated by clinical trials? Additionally, what precautions should be taken to ensure its effectiveness while minimizing potential side effects?
What is Evening Primrose Oil?
Evening primrose (scientific name: Oenothera biennis, family Onagraceae) is a plant native to North and South America. The plant features bright yellow flowers that bloom in the evening, earning it the name “Evening Primrose.”
Evening Primrose Oil is extracted through cold pressing the seeds of the evening primrose. This oil is rich in essential fatty acids – types of fats necessary for health that the body cannot produce on its own.
Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil
The health benefits of evening primrose oil are primarily attributed to its high content of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). These acids serve as precursors to anti-inflammatory substances in the body. Additionally, evening primrose oil contains other compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolics, which also possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The benefits of evening primrose oil for hormonal health and skin care have been demonstrated through clinical studies, as detailed below:
Menopausal Hot Flashes: This condition involves peripheral vasodilation, increased blood flow to the skin, accompanied by redness, sweating (especially on the chest, face, and neck), and chills. Each episode of hot flashes typically lasts around 1–5 minutes, and sometimes up to an hour, but it can significantly reduce the quality of life. Evening primrose oil is one of the non-hormonal treatments for this condition. In a clinical trial, 56 menopausal women took evening primrose oil capsules daily for 6 weeks, resulting in a significant improvement in hot flash symptoms.
Atopic Eczema: This is an immune-related condition, primarily occurring in patients with a family and/or personal history of allergies. One of the key causes of this condition is the impaired epidermal barrier, which increases the permeability of the stratum corneum when exposed to allergens. Most clinical trials have shown improvement in atopic eczema symptoms with the use of evening primrose oil capsules.
Acne: Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder caused by the overproduction of sebum. Symptoms include inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) and non-inflammatory lesions, concentrated around the neck, shoulders, face, upper chest, and back. Isotretinoin is commonly used to treat acne, but it can cause side effects related to skin hydration and transepidermal water loss. A clinical study showed that during acne treatment with isotretinoin, supplementing with evening primrose oil helped reduce the severity of skin side effects caused by isotretinoin, specifically by increasing skin moisture. This added moisture creates a protective barrier on the skin, which may help alleviate acne.
Breast Pain: This is a common physiological condition in women, primarily occurring before menstruation. GLA deficiency has been clearly identified in breast pain, and since evening primrose oil is rich in GLA, it can be effective in treating this condition. Indeed, in most clinical trials, patients who took evening primrose oil capsules experienced a significant improvement in breast pain.
Precautions When Using Evening Primrose Oil:
Due to its nature as a fatty acid, evening primrose oil capsules should be taken with food to enhance absorption. The appropriate dosage depends on the intended use and should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific supplement being used.
Evening primrose oil is generally well-tolerated. However, some potential side effects include allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances (such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting).
Evening primrose oil can interact with and affect the efficacy of anticonvulsant and anticoagulant medications. Therefore, if you are taking any of these medications, do not use evening primrose oil without consulting a healthcare professional.
Avoid using evening primrose oil if you are allergic to it or have epilepsy, as it may increase the risk of seizures. Additionally, due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting the safety of evening primrose oil in pregnant and breastfeeding women, it is not recommended for these individuals.
Specialist level 2 doctor. Nguyen Chi Thanh
References:
- Timoszuk, Magdalena & Bielawska, Katarzyna & Skrzydlewska, Elzbieta. (2018). Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) Biological Activity Dependent on Chemical Composition. Antioxidants. 7. 108. 10.3390/antiox7080108.
- Atherton, M. (2021/04/22/, 2021 Apr 22). Evening primrose oil benefits: Should you take evening primrose oil supplements? Express (Online) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/evening-primrose-oil-benefits-should-you-take/docview/2519014406/se-2.
- Sharifi M, Nourani N, Sanaie S, Hamedeyazdan S. The effect of Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil on inflammatory diseases: a systematic review of clinical trials. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024 Feb 15;24(1):89. doi: 10.1186/s12906-024-04378-5. PMID: 38360611; PMCID: PMC10867995.
- Micromedex – Monograph on Evening Primrose Oil. Accessed on July 20, 2024.
