High dose supplements of borage oil failed to improve symptoms of eczema, shows a new study in this week’s British Medical Journal, challenging previous research that suggested a dose related benefit. Purified borage oil, also known as starflower oil, contains a minimum of 23 per cent gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that is needed for normal skin function. Evening primrose oil, often taken to treat eczema too, also contains GLA, but in lower concentrations. GLA supplementation has been widely investigated for treatment of atopic eczema but although it has consistently proved safe and well tolerated, efficacy has been inconsistent.
