Product Review

The body needs fatty acids to survive and is able to make all but two of them: linoleic acid (LA), in the omega-6 family, and alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) in the omega-3 family. These two fatty acids must be supplied by the diet and are therefore considered essential fatty acids (EFAs). Omega-6 fatty acids are well-supplied in the diet by meat and vegetable oils. However, not all omega-6 fatty acids are of equal value. Arachidonic acid (AA) tends to be unhealthy because it is the precursor of inflammatory eicosanoids - such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane A2, and leukotriene B4 - which promote inflammation. In contrast, gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), found in evening primrose oil, borage oil, and black currant oil, is an important fatty acid that plays a beneficial role in healthy prostaglandin (PGE1) formation and pro-inflammatory mediator reduction. Health-conscious people have been swallowing a lot of borage oil supplements to obtain GLA (gamma linoleic acid), the parent of the biologically active DGLA (dihomogamma linoleic acid). Numerous studies document GLA's multiple health effects. Enhancing this supplement with sesame lignans enables GLA to work much better in the body, allowing many more people to benefit from supplemental GLA.