Evening Primrose, Borage and Fish Oil - Quest 30 capsules 5 Pack Offer (£3.82 per pack)

	Good for: Helps to regulate menstrual cycle, reduce breast pain and water retention, also good for joint stiffness
	Things to be aware of: Epileptics should avoid EPO as the oil may induce certain temporal lobe epilepsy. Those taking medications for schizophrenia should avoid EPO supplements. p&p from £2.50+VAT no matter how much you buy!

Evening Primrose , Borage and Fish Oil

Evening Primrose, Borage & Fish Oil provides a balance of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids which are the constituents of cell membranes. These fatty acids are precursors of hormone-like substances that help regulate the menstrual cycle, blood pressure and the condition of the skin. Fish oils may help to maintain a healthy heart as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

GLA and PMS

GLA is an Essential Fatty Acid found in "good" oils such as Borage (also known as Starflower), Evening Primrose, and Black Currant. GLA is a polyunsaturated fat that must be obtained from dietary sources. A healthy body creates GLA by converting dietary Linoleic Acid (LA) found in many processed foods, margarine, and vegetable oils. The body metabolizes GLA into hormone-like compounds that regulate body processes at the cellular level.

In women with PMS, however, the initial conversion of dietary Linoleic Acid to GLA is often impaired. The result is a lower level of GLA and its metabolites in the tissue. Research done in the last 20 years shows that women deficient in GLA are over-sensitive to the hormone prolactin, which may result in breast pain. Supplementation with GLA creates hormone-like compounds that "switch off" some of the effects of prolactin, resulting in a decrease in breast pain.

A deficiency in GLA may also be responsible for many other PMS symptoms such as depression and irritibility, and fluid retention. Furthermore, research has shown that a deficiency in Essential Fatty Acids in general appears to make various body tissues, in addition to breast tissue, so sensitive that they respond abnormally to reproductive hormones.

GLA supplementation is therefore a good choice for women who suffer from these uncomfortable and painful symptoms. Unlike conventional PMS treatments, GLA is a naturally derived supplement that has been proven safe and effective in a number of disease conditions. Ongoing research continues to show the beneficial effects of GLA in PMS.

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Dosage

Directions: One capsule three times daily with food
 
Nutritional Information 
Name                                         Amount      R.D.A.
Evening Primrose/Borage Oil           500 mg       0

Fish Oil Concentrate                        250mg       0            

Note: Providing: LA (Linoleic Acid) - 280mg;GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) 80mg;EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) 45mg; and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) -30mg.Contains Natural Source Vitamin E

Additional Ingredients: Capsule Shell (Gelatin, Glycerin).

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Does it work?

There have been many studies looking at the benefit of taking Evening Primrose supplements to help control PMS symptoms. Howeever, overall there are no clear conclusion with some studies showing a positive benefit while others do not. Despite this many individual have experienecd the benfit and the medical profession continue to recommend Evening Primrose when PMS symptoms are first reported.  

On specific symptoms such as breast tenderness there has been clearer results:

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared the effects of danazol, bromocriptine, EPO, progestins, and placebo in 291 womenwith mastalgia. The experimental agents were tried sequentially, and the patients subjectively rated their relief by recording their assessment of pain on a visual analogue scale supplemented by a pain diary. EPO (3 grams per day) was effective forcyclical mastalgia in 45% of patients, with a relapse rate of 21% after the first course of treatment.

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