Evening primrose oil is a rich source of the omega-6 fatty acids linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
LA is an essential fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained in foods. GLA is rare in foods, but can be biosynthesized from LA. These fatty acids are the precursors of prostaglandins — physiologically active lipid compounds that have diverse functions including vasodilatation and regulation of the inflammatory response*.
