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Evening primrose oil.

Bryan Bayles1, Richard Usatine

  • 1Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. baylesb@uthscsa.edu

American Family Physician
|December 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
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Evening primrose oil, rich in omega-6 fatty acids, shows limited effectiveness for atopic dermatitis, breast pain, and PMS. More rigorous trials are needed to confirm its benefits and optimal use.

Area of Science:

  • Phytotherapy
  • Nutritional Science
  • Integrative Medicine

Background:

  • Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis) is a popular alternative therapy derived from omega-6 essential fatty acids.
  • It is widely recognized for its potential applications in managing chronic inflammatory conditions like atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Additionally, it is frequently explored for various women's health concerns, including mastalgia, menopausal symptoms, and labor induction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the clinical effectiveness of evening primrose oil for common health indications.
  • To assess the evidence supporting its use in systemic diseases and women's health conditions.
  • To identify gaps in current research and guide future clinical trials.

Main Methods:

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  • Systematic review and critical appraisal of existing clinical trials on evening primrose oil.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, mastalgia, menopausal symptoms, and pregnancy-related applications.
  • Assessment of methodological quality and statistical significance of reported outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Current evidence suggests oral evening primrose oil offers no significant clinical improvement for atopic dermatitis.
    • It is likely ineffective for cyclical mastalgia and premenstrual syndrome.
    • Most trials exhibit methodological flaws, rendering findings preliminary; use during pregnancy is not recommended.

    Conclusions:

    • The efficacy of evening primrose oil for most clinical indications remains unproven due to insufficient high-quality evidence.
    • While generally well-tolerated with minor side effects, its therapeutic role requires further investigation.
    • Adequately powered clinical trials are necessary to establish optimal dosing and treatment regimens.