Borage, commonly known as starflower, is an annual herb native to Syria that grows to about three feet in height and bears blue, pink or white colored five-pointed flowers. The leaves and flowers are edible and used in some cuisines. Borage oil, extracted from the seeds, contains high quantities of the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, GLA. This omega-6 fatty acid is used for a variety of
purported health benefits, some of which have been supported by scientific studies. Consult your doctor before supplementing with borage oil.
Dermatitis
Omega-6 essential fatty acids in borage oil may provide some benefits for atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disorder, according to a study published in the July 2010 journal "Nutrition." The meta-study, a review of previously published research, found mixed results in 12 studies but concluded that borage oil consistently produced modest benefits in mild cases. Most studies on omega-6 oils for atopic dermatitis have focused on evening primrose oil and not borage oil, according to the researchers; however, borage oil contains two to three times more gamma-linolenic acid -- an important fatty acid for such functions as brain health, metabolism, and skin and bone maintenance.
Inflammation
Borage oil and other omega-6-containing botanical oils may reduce inflammation associated with certain conditions, according to a study published in the February 2008 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Supplementation with flaxseed, borage and echium oils counteract the pro-inflammatory effects of dietary over-consumption of saturated fats that lead to chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, and atherosclerosis.
Weight Management
Borage oil may be useful for weight management, according to a study published in the June 2007 "Journal of Nutrition." In the study, participants, all formerly obese, took 5g per day of borage oil for one year and showed four times less weight gain than a control group that received olive oil. The researchers concluded that borage oil effectively prevented weight regain following a large amount of weight loss and that borage oil shows potential as a supplement for weight management and obesity prevention.
Skin Resilience
Skin health gets a boost from borage oil, according to researchers of a study on borage oil in elderly people that was published in the March 2000 journal "Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics." Because the liver produces gamma-linolenic acid from linoleic acid, supplementation is helpful when liver function is impaired by illness or is simply sluggish. In the study, participants who took 360mg or 720mg of borage oil per day for two months showed 10.8 percent less water loss from the skin, indicating improved barrier function of the skin and better protection from injury and infection.
References
- "Nutrition"; Borage oil in the treatment of atopic dermatitis; Foster RH et al; 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Mechanisms by which botanical lipids affect inflammatory disorders; Chilton FH et al; 2008
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Gamma-linolenate reduces weight regain in formerly obese humans. Schirmer MA et al; 2007
- "Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics"; Effect of borage oil consumption on fatty acid metabolism, transepidermal water loss and skin parameters in elderly people. Brosche T et al; 2000
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