The Benefits of Borage Oil

By Artur Klimaszewski, MD
Source: Total Health for Longevity magazine
Date Published: March 2000

Borage (Borago officinalis) has been used for thousands of years for medicinal, culinary and decorative purposes. Borage, also known as "Starflower" for the star-shaped arrangement of its flower petals, is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. The plant was introduced to North America as a garden herb.

In 1985, wide-scale production of Borage crops in North America began for the purpose of harvesting the seed, which contains an oil rich in Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), a "good" fat with numerous health benefits. The seeds of the Borage plant contain 20-23% GLA, providing the richest natural source of this fatty acid -- almost twice as much as in any other sources. Due to its high concentration of GLA, Borage Oil has begun to replace traditional GLA-containing oils such as Evening Primrose and Black Currant.

GLA - like other essential vitamins and minerals - should be part of a complete supplementation program for the maintenance of good health.

In addition, GLA is useful in several health conditions. It has long been used by women suffering from Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). However, recent research has also proven GLA to be useful in other conditions including:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• eczema · psoriasis
• diabetic neuropathy
• cardiovascular disease

Borage Oil in the maintenance of good health

Genetically, we are virtually identical to our "hunter-gatherer" ancestors, yet the food we eat is far removed. Of particular concern is the excess of "bad" fats in the modern diet. Nutritional research shows that we presently eat ten times more saturated fat and hundreds of times more trans-fatty acids than did prehistoric humans. Such high consumption of these bad fats is known to impair the body's mechanisms for regulating inflammation, blood pressure, and blood clotting. Supplementation with the "good" fat in Borage Oil is one of the ways of restoring the natural balance our bodies were meant to have. Supplementation with GLA found in Borage Oil will reduce inflammation, help regulate blood pressure, and help prevent blood clotting. As well, GLA may have some anti-cancerous effects and may play a role in the prevention of some cancers, such as cancer of the stomach and bladder.

In addition to GLA, there are other fatty acids that are essential for good health. These include Alpha Linolenic Acid, or ALA (found in Flax Oil), and EPA and DHA (found in Fish Oils). These fats also play a very important role in regulating some of the most basic body functions on a minute-to-minute basis. A balance of all these fats is as important to good health as other essential vitamins and minerals.

The use of Borage Oil in medical conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Studies done in the last 15 years show that dietary supplementation with GLA reduces the clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, the most painful and crippling form of arthritic disease. GLA reduces pain and joint stiffness, and decreases the number of affected joints. Supplementation with GLA often allows a patient to reduce their dosage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Furthermore, animal studies show that GLA protects the stomach lining against gastric acid, reducing the side effects of prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as aspirin. GLA is therefore useful in conjunction with conventional arthritis medications.

One of the most recent studies was done at the University of Massachusetts in 1996. Patients received oil that contained 2.8 grams of GLA daily for 12 months (the equivalent of about 11 grams of Borage Oil). Patients experienced significant improvements in their symptoms within the first six months of the study and continued to improve during the remaining six months.

In the fall of 1999, further research was completed at Boston's Shriner's Hospital for Children demonstrating that GLA is also effective in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Usage of GLA for arthritis is recommended by The Arthritis Foundation in their 1999 Guide to Alternative Therapies .

Recommended GLA therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Patients should start with 6 to 10 grams of Borage Oil per day. The first positive effects can generally be seen after several weeks of supplementation. Improvement may continue for 12 months or more.

Skin Health
GLA is noted for its effects on the skin -- it helps to reduce dryness and keep skin healthy, supple, and young-looking. In the last 20 years, researchers have discovered that the troublesome skin condition eczema may be linked to a deficiency of GLA. Trials with GLA supplementation have demonstrated a strongly positive effect. In 1997, researchers at the University of Italy conducted a 12-week study in which patients receiving Borage Oil experienced significant reduction in all their symptoms. By the end of the study itching decreased about 90%. Improvements were also seen in vesicle formation, patchy redness of the skin, and oozing of wounds.

Many case studies indicate that supplementation with Borage Oil may also improve symptoms of psoriasis.

Recommended GLA therapy for eczema and psoriasis: Supplement the diet with 2 to 3 grams of Borage Oil per day. In addition, apply the oil topically - simply pierce the capsules to release the oil and apply it directly to affected areas. Improvements in symptoms will begin during the first four weeks of therapy and will continue for 12 weeks or more.

Diabetic Neuropathy
Between 60% and 70% of diabetics have some form of neuropathy - nerve damage caused by a prolonged imbalance in blood glucose levels. Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include numbness and sometimes pain in the hands, feet, or legs. Nerve damage can also affect internal organs such as the digestive tract, heart, and secual organs, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, dizziness, and bladder infection. Neuropathy can also lead to impotence, which afflicts approximately 9% of all diabetic men. In severe forms, neuropathy can lead to lower limb amputations. Conventional medicine offers no satisfactory treatment for diabetic neuropathy. However, in the last 20 years, clinical research has demonstrated that supplementation with GLA is an important factor contributing to prevention and improvement of neuropathy. Between 1993 and 1997 two multicenter trials, involving more than 400 patients in all, measured the effects of GLA supplementation in neuropathy. The researchers measured 16 parameters of neurological function including nerve conduction strength and speed, ability to feel temperature, sensitivity to touch, reflexes, and muscle strength. After a full year of treatment, patients receiving GLA had experienced significant improvements while the placebo group had continued to deteriorate.

Recommended GLA therapy for diabetic neuropathy: Anyone with diabetes may consider supplementing with Borage Oil as a preventive measure against neuropathy. Patients with existing neuropathy may experience improvement in symptoms with GLA supplementation. Supplement the diet with 2 grams of Borage Oil daily. The improvement is gradual and will continue over many months and years.

Cardiovascular Disease
GLA has been shown to help correct blood cholesterol levels, and may interfere with the growth of atherosclerotic plaque, one of the leading causes of heart disease. GLA also helps to lower stress-related blood pressure.

Cholesterol: In 1994, a Chilean placebo-controlled human clinical study demonstrated the positive effects of GLA on blood cholesterol. The study included 12 men with increased levels of LDL ("bad cholesterol") and with a known family history of premature coronary artery disease. The patients received 240 mg of GLA per day. After two months of supplementation, the average LDL-cholesterol level in the treatment group had fallen to a healthy 125 mg/dl of blood. At the same time, the average blood level of the beneficial HDL-cholesterol ("good cholesterol") increased. Effects, however, may vary so patients should monitor their cholesterol level over time.

Further effects of GLA on the growth of atherosclerotic plaque: Several studies done on animals or in vitro suggest that GLA may inhibit a number of other processes related to the growth of atherosclerotic plaque including platelet aggregation, smooth muscle cell multiplication, and inflammation. These findings have yet to be confirmed in human trials.

High blood pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) increases blood turbulence and may damage blood vessel walls, leading to the development of atherosclerotic plaque. Several laboratory studies on hypertensive rats have shown that dietary supplementation with oils containing GLA significantly lowered blood pressure.

Studies on humans demonstrate that GLA supplementation is particularly useful for stress-related hypertension (high blood pressure). In a 1996 study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, patients received 1 gram of GLA per day for 4 weeks. During subsequent stress-exposure tests, the patients in the treatment group had much lower blood pressure than patients in the placebo group. The placebo patients experienced almost double the increase in blood pressure during experimental stress than did patients who received GLA.

Recommended GLA therapy for cardiovascular benefits: Effective dosages for lowering blood cholesterol levels are in the range of 1 to 4 grams of Borage Oil per day. Effective dosages for reducing stress-related blood pressure are in the range of 4 to 5 grams of Borage Oil daily. The positive effects of GLA can generally be seen after one month of supplementation, although some people might experience the effects much faster. The full effects of GLA supplementation are seen over longer periods.

Borage Oil… the best natural source of GLA

Borage Oil is the best source of GLA, containing up to 23% of this fatty acid. Evening Primrose Oil (8-10% GLA) and Black Currant Oil (15-17% GLA) are other sources of GLA. Because of the higher concentration of GLA in Borage Oil, a patient may consume less oil overall to achieve the required dosage. This allows the patient to consume the least amount of supplemental calories possible and makes Borage Oil the most economical source of GLA.

Borage Oil is available as a liquid oil or in easy-to-swallow capsules that may be taken on a daily basis as part of a regular supplementation program. Many manufacturers also offer "combination" products containing a healthy blend of fatty acid oils including Borage, Flax, and Fish Oils.

Safety and side effects
GLA and Borage Oil have been used in hundreds of clinical trials in dosages up to 12 grams of Borage Oil per day for periods of up to a year. No significant ill effects have been observed . Users of high dosages occasionally experience a slight stomach upset or minor bowel disturbance.

Sidebar: The History of Borage
Borage has a long and colourful history that dates back to Roman times, when the famous naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote about it in his encyclopedic tome, the Historia Naturalis. Pliny noted Borage as an antidepressant "because it maketh a man merry and joyfull". Throughout ancient times, Borage was associated with bravery. The Celtic warriors drank Borage-flavored wine to give them courage. In the Middle Ages, the blooms of the Borage were used in salads and syrup made from the flowers was thought to "comforteth the heart, purgeth melancholy, and quieteth the phrenticke and lunaticke person". The raw leaves were believed to engender good blood, "especially in those that have been lately sicke". In the early part of the 19th century, the young tops of the Borage plant were sometimes boiled as a pot-herb, and the young leaves considered good in salads. It was also steeped in water and mixed with lemon and lime to create a refreshing and restorative summer drink. The leaf was also used in wines and ciders, and was still used this way in the early years of the 20th century. The delicate blossoms of the Borage plant were preserved and candied. Today we consume oil extracted from the Borage seed for its beneficial effects on skin, nerve function and healthy joints.

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