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Dietary supplement

Black Currant Oil Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Sunshine

Black Currant Oil label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Black Currant Oil against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Black Currant Oil is a dietary supplement by Nature's Sunshine with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for dry eyes and eye strain, joint pain and inflammation, immune and general wellness support.Based on those ingredients, 140 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Black Currant seed Oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 16, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: black currant seed oil, which is extracted from the seeds of the black currant berry. The capsule itself is an inactive ingredient (the container that holds the oil).

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Black Currant's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Dry eye, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) — and 3 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Black Currant is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Atopic dermatitis (eczema) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Black Currant is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Dry eye, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, Osteoarthritis, and more.

The evidence for black currant seed oil's effectiveness isn't established in our data. We hold insufficient evidence to rate it for Alzheimer disease, liver disease, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, or atopic dermatitis (eczema) — the conditions listed in our facts.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Black Currant

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Black currant berries eaten as food are generally well tolerated, but concentrated supplements like this one are less studied and warrant caution. A small number of trial participants taking black currant seed oil (at 1.8 grams twice daily for 6 weeks) reported mild diarrhea, which appeared 2–10 days after they started the supplement.

Because supplement safety data is limited, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting. There isn't enough information on file about black currant seed oil in pregnancy or lactation to know either way — discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Black Currant

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Black Currant.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 140 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you're on blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (like warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel) — black currant seed oil could theoretically increase bleeding risk. Also double-check if you take phenothiazines (antipsychotic medications), since there's a theoretical concern about seizure risk, though evidence is limited.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Black currant seed oil may be worth considering if you're curious about general wellness support — but the evidence for specific health claims isn't solid yet. If you take a blood thinner, antiplatelet drug, or antipsychotic, you'll want to double-check with your own doctor or pharmacist first.

Mild diarrhea is the main side effect reported in trials. Talk it over with your healthcare provider before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 23, 2019.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Black Currant Oil, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Sunshine
Barcode (UPC) 099904018105
Net contents 90 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 23, 2019
DSLD ID 208642
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
099904018105
IngredientAmount% DV
Black Currant seed Oil250 mg--

Other ingredients: Capsule

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

010018100114

Nature's Sunshine uses natural source materials that are subject to color variation.

Product of U.S.A. Since 1972 Quality, service, integrity

Guaranteed pure Immune system support

Formula

Black Currant Oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids, including omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).

Provides essential fatty acids

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommendation: Take one capsule with a meal three times daily.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Precautions

This container was sealed for your protection. Do not use if inner seal is missing or damaged.

Storage

Refrigerate after opening

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Brand IP Statement(s)

2014

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Black Currant Oil label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Black Currant seed Oil

Interacts with
140 drugs
250 mg per serving Form: Gamma-Linolenic Acid

Black currant is a nutritious berry that is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and its seed oil contains the omega-6 fatty acid GLA. While it is enjo...

Black Currant seed Oil monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Black Currant Oil?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
140Drugs
140 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Black Currant seed Oil 140

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Black Currant Oil interact with 140 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Black Currant Oil interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Black Currant seed Oil

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Black Currant Oil with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Black Currant seed Oil2 drug types · 140 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, black currant seed oil might increase the risk of bleeding if used in combination with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a constituent of black currant seed oil, appears to have antiplatelet effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenothiazines

Theoretically, black currant seed oil might increase the risk of seizure in patients receiving phenothiazines.
Black currant seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is some concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines, although there is no evidence that black currant seed oil causes seizures. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with GLA, although none experienced an actual seizure. In another report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily, which contains GLA, was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Black Currant seed Oil full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Black Currant Oil, from the product label.

Nature's Sunshine

See all Nature's Sunshine products
Name
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
City
Spanish Fork
State
UT
ZipCode
84660
Phone Number
1-800-223-8225
Web Address
www.naturessunshine.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine: Common Questions

Does Black Currant Oil by Nature's Sunshine interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Black Currant Oil has a known interaction with 140 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Black Currant Oil contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take black currant oil if I'm on warfarin or aspirin?
Not without checking first. Black currant seed oil contains a compound that may have blood-thinning effects, so it could raise your bleeding risk if combined with warfarin, aspirin, or other antiplatelet medications. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this supplement.
What side effects did people report in trials?
Mild diarrhea was the main one — a small number of trial participants reported it 2–10 days after beginning black currant seed oil at 1.8 grams twice daily for 6 weeks. Most people tolerated it well.
Is black currant oil safe to use long-term?
The safety data on concentrated supplements is limited. Eating the berry as food is probably fine, but we don't have enough long-term study data on supplements to say they're safe indefinitely. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about how long you should use it.
Will black currant oil help with eczema or cough?
We don't have enough reliable evidence to say. The data we hold rates black currant seed oil as having insufficient evidence for atopic dermatitis (eczema), cough, and several other conditions.
Is this safe if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough information on file to know either way. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to decide what's right for you in that situation.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Black Currant Oil is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Black Currant Oil label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Black Currant Oil’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Black Currant

Interacts with 140 drugs

Black currant is a nutritious berry that is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and its seed oil contains the omega-6 fatty acid GLA. While it is enjoyed safely as a food and is popular as a...

Read the full Black Currant monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Black Currant Oil's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 6 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Black Currant 6 references
  1. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
  2. Fa-lin Z, Zhen-yu W, Yan H, et al. Efficacy of blackcurrant oil soft capsule, a Chinese herbal drug, in hyperlipidemia treatment. Phytother Res 2010;24 Suppl 2:S209-13. PubMed
  3. Holman CP and Bell AF. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J Orhtomolecular Psych 1983;12:302-304.
  4. Vaddadi KS. The use of gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6(4):375-379. PubMed
  5. Norred, C. L. and Brinker, F. Potential coagulation effects of preoperative complementary and alternative medicines. Alt Ther 2001;7(6):58-67.
  6. Puri BK. The safety of evening primrose oil in epilepsy. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 2007;77:101-3. PubMed

See these in context on the Black Currant monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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