What is the recommended dose of GLA?

- **Look for:** GLA content specifically quantified; borage oil (20-24% GLA); or evening primrose oil (8-10% GLA); standardized to GLA percentage - **Avoid:** Safflower/sunflower marketed as GLA (h...

Is GLA safe to take daily?

GLA is rated "Generally Safe" based on clinical evidence. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

GLA

MODERATE EVIDENCESupplementLast updated

AVELOR SUMMARY

GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that is ANTI-inflammatory — the opposite of what you'd expect from an omega-6. While linoleic acid (the common omega-6) converts to pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid, GLA converts to DGLA (dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid), which produces PGE1 — an ANTI-inflammatory prostaglandin. Our research shows GLA from borage oil (20-24% GLA) or evening primrose oil (8-10% GLA) has moderate evidence for rheumatoid arthritis (reduced joint swelling/pain by 40%), diabetic neuropathy, and eczema. The key: delta-6 desaturase (the enzyme that converts dietary linoleic acid to GLA) is impaired by aging, diabetes, alcohol, and stress — so supplementing GLA bypasses this bottleneck.

WHAT IT DOES

GLA bypasses the impaired delta-6 desaturase step: dietary linoleic acid → (delta-6 desaturase) → GLA → DGLA. DGLA then has three fates: (1) COX-1 converts DGLA to PGE1 — ANTI-inflammatory prostaglandin (vasodilatory, anti-aggregatory, immunomodulatory); (2) 15-LOX converts DGLA to 15-HETrE — blocks LTB4 production (anti-inflammatory); (3) delta-5 desaturase converts DGLA to arachidonic acid (pro-inflammatory) — BUT this step is blocked by EPA (omega-3). So: GLA + EPA = maximum anti-inflammatory effect (GLA produces DGLA→PGE1, while EPA blocks DGLA→AA conversion and competes with AA for COX/LOX).

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

Look for: GLA content specifically quantified; borage oil (20-24% GLA); or evening primrose oil (8-10% GLA); standardized to GLA percentage
Avoid: Safflower/sunflower marketed as GLA (high in linoleic acid, NOT GLA); products without GLA quantification
Minimum effective dose: 500mg GLA/day for inflammatory conditions
Third-party tested brands: Barlean's (borage oil), NOW Foods (evening primrose), Nordic Naturals

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SAFETY PROFILE

Critical Interactions (Do Not Combine Without Medical Supervision)

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

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Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

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