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Dietary supplement

Borage Oil 1,000 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Viva Vitamins

Softgel Capsule Category: Fat/fatty Acid
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Borage Oil 1,000 mg is a dietary supplement by Viva Vitamins with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eczema and dry skin, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 312 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins

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

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 3 of its 3 active ingredients.
  • “Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (1 Gram(s)) without saying how much of each component you get.

Borage Oil 1,000 mg is a softgel capsule with three active fatty acids: gamma-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. These come from borage seed oil, a plant-based source rich in omega-6 and monounsaturated fats.

The capsule also contains gelatin, glycerin, and water as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
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 assessable

We hold no graded evidence for this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: balance female hormones and skin health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hormonal balance, skin health, hair and nail health — and 1 related terms.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

Oleic acid in this product is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and coronary heart disease. That means the research so far is promising but not yet definitive — we'd want to see more solid evidence before calling it proven.

The effectiveness data we hold applies to oleic acid specifically; we don't have established effectiveness ratings for the other two fatty acids in the product.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Borage Oleic Acid

How safe is it?

Some data gaps
Safety Information · database check
Some gaps

Safety data exists for these ingredients, but with some important gaps.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 0 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.

Oleic acid from food sources like olive oil is generally well tolerated and recognized as safe in normal amounts. However, concentrated supplements of oleic acid haven't been well studied.

For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the amount you'd get from food is considered safe, but supplement-level doses lack good safety data — talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you're pregnant or nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Borage Oleic Acid

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 — Oleic Acid.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 86 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.

If you take antidiabetes drugs (oral medications that lower blood sugar), oleic acid in this product may increase their effect — you'll want to discuss that with your doctor or pharmacist before adding it. We couldn't verify interactions for the other two fatty acids in the product.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and some safety-information gaps remain.

This product may help with cholesterol and heart health, and it's generally well tolerated at food levels. If you take any diabetes medication or are pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Because we couldn't check two of the three active ingredients for interactions, it's worth reviewing your full medication list with a healthcare provider before starting.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 3 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 23, 2020.

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 Borage Oil 1,000 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Viva Vitamins
Barcode (UPC) 726899506743
Net contents 90 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 23, 2020
DSLD ID 237097
Product type Fat/fatty Acid
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult Female (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
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 Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins, 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 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
726899506743
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories10 Calorie(s)--
Calories from Fat10 Calorie(s)--
Total Fat1 Gram(s)1%
Gamma-Linolenic Acid240 mg--
Linoleic Acid380 mg--
Oleic Acid150 mg--
Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil1 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Take one or more softgels daily, preferably with meals, or as directed by your health care professional.

Formulation

Borage Oil's high Gamma Linolenic Acid concentration allows it to potentially assist in balancing out the female hormonal cycle. It can also help improve the health and appearance of hair, skin, and nails.

Can assist in balancing female hormones

Contains No: Gluten, sugar, starch, salt, yeast, corn, soy, wheat, lactose, citrus, milk, egg, fish products, artificial flavoring, or preservatives.

Made in the USA

Non-GMO

Manufactured in an NSF - GMP Certified facility

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place and away from direct light.

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if safety seal under cap is broken or missing.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Formula

240 mg GLA

General Statements

We always use the highest quality ingredients Premium formulas

For more information, visit www.vivavitamins.com

In God we trust

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Brand IP Statement(s)

2018 Manufactured exclusively for Viva Vitamins

See for yourself

Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins

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

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container90 Amounts shown are per serving.

Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil

Interacts with
226 drugs
1 Gram(s) per serving

Borage is a Mediterranean herb whose seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid studied mostly for skin conditions and arth...

Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil monograph & interactions
  • › Gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • › Linoleic Acid
  • Oleic Acid

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

Interaction report

Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Borage Oil 1,000 mg?

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
312Drugs
312 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Borage Oil 1,000 mg 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.

Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil3 drug types · 226 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In healthy individuals, borage seed oil supplementation does not seem to affect platelet aggregation. However, gamma-linolenic acid, a constituent of borage seed oil, seems to decrease platelet aggregation by 45% and increase the risk of bleeding by 40% in animal and clinical research.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Inducers

Theoretically, taking borage with drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) toxic metabolites.
Although borage seed oil contains little to no PAs, some borage plant parts, such as the leaf, flower, and seed, can contain hepatotoxic PAs. Hepatotoxic PAs are substrates of CYP3A4, which converts these chemicals into toxic metabolites. Tell patients to avoid borage preparations that are not certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenothiazines

Theoretically, taking borage sed oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of seizures.
Borage seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines. This is based on limited data from two reports published in the 1980s. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with evening primrose, another source of GLA. However, none experienced an actual seizure. In the other report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures. It is unclear whether evening primrose had any additive epileptogenic effects with the phenothiazines, but there is no evidence that taking GLA-containing supplements alone can cause seizures.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Borage Oil 1,000 mg, from the product label.

Viva Vitamins

Name
Viva Vitamins
Web Address
www.VivaVitamins.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins: Common Questions

Does Borage Oil 1,000 mg by Viva Vitamins interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Borage Oil 1,000 mg has a known interaction with 312 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Borage Oil 1,000 mg 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 this if I'm on diabetes medication?
Oleic acid in borage oil may increase how well your blood-sugar medication works, which could lower your blood glucose further than expected. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it — you may need a medication adjustment or closer monitoring.
Is this safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
The amount of oleic acid you'd get from food is fine, but supplement-level doses haven't been well studied in pregnancy and lactation. You'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice on whether to take this while pregnant or nursing.
What does borage oil actually do?
Borage oil is rich in fatty acids, including oleic acid, which research shows may help with high cholesterol and heart health — though the evidence is still developing. It's generally well tolerated from food sources, though concentrated supplements are less studied.
Are there any fillers in this?
The active ingredients are the three fatty acids; the inactive ingredients are gelatin, glycerin, and water, which are the capsule shell and its contents.
What are gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid for?
Both are fatty acids your body uses for various functions. We don't have specific effectiveness data on file for them in this product, but they're part of the overall borage oil blend.

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

Not sure if Borage Oil 1,000 mg is safe with your meds?

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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.

Borage Oil 1,000 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Borage Oil 1,000 mg'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 30 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.

Oleic Acid 19 references
  1. Madigan C, Ryan M, Owens D, et al. Dietary unsaturated fatty acids in type 2 diabetes: higher levels of postprandial lipoprotein on a linoleic acid-rich sunflower oil diet compared with an oleic acid-rich olive oil diet. Diabetes Care 2000;23:1472-7. PubMed
  2. Gillingham, L. G., Gustafson, J. A., Han, S. Y., Jassal, D. S., and Jones, P. J. High-oleic rapeseed (canola) and flaxseed oils modulate serum lipids and inflammatory biomarkers in hypercholesterolaemic subjects. Br J Nutr 2011;105(3):417-427. PubMed
  3. Jones PJ, Senanayake VK, Pu S, Jenkins DJ, Connelly PW, Lamarche B, Couture P, Charest A, Baril-Gravel L, West SG, Liu X, Fleming JA, McCrea CE, Kris-Etherton PM. DHA-enriched high-oleic acid canola oil improves lipid profile and lowers predicted cardiova
  4. Cater, N. B., Heller, H. J., and Denke, M. A. Comparison of the effects of medium-chain triacylglycerols, palm oil, and high oleic acid sunflower oil on plasma triacylglycerol fatty acids and lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in humans. Am.J Clin.Nutr PubMed
  5. Mozaffarian D, Clarke R. Quantitative effects on cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease risk of replacing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with other fats and oils. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63(Suppl 2):S22-33. PubMed
  6. Cao Y, Hou L, Wang W. Dietary total fat and fatty acids intake, serum fatty acids and risk of breast cancer: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Int J Cancer. 2016;138(8):1894-904. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29938. PubMed
  7. FDA completes review of qualified health claim petition for oleic acid and the risk of coronary heart disease. November 2018. Available at: www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm624758.htm. Accessed January 25, 2019.
  8. Liu X, Kris-Etherton PM, West SG, et al. Effects of canola and high-oleic-acid canola oils on abdominal fat mass in individuals with central obesity. Obesity. 2016;24(11):2261-2268. PubMed
  9. Bowen KJ, Kris-Etherton PM, West SG, et al. Diets enriched with conventional or high-oleic acid canola oils lower atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins compared to a diet with a western fatty acid profile in adults with central adiposity. J Nutr. 2019;149(3 PubMed
  10. Steffen BT, Duprez D, Szklo M, Guan W, Tsai MY. Circulating oleic acid levels are related to greater risks of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. J Clin Lipidol. 2018;12(6):1404-1412. PubMed
  11. Banim PJ, Luben R, Khaw KT, Hart AR. Dietary oleic acid is inversely associated with pancreatic cancer - Data from food diaries in a cohort study. Pancreatology. 2018;18(6):655-660. PubMed
  12. Morin SJ, Gaziano JM, Djoussé L. Relation between plasma phospholipid oleic acid and risk of heart failure. Eur J Nutr. 2018;57(8):2937-2942. PubMed
  13. Samieri C, Féart C, Proust-Lima C, et al. Olive oil consumption, plasma oleic acid, and stroke incidence: the Three-City Study. Neurology. 2011;77(5):418-25. PubMed
  14. Compher CW, Kinosian BP, Rubesin SE, Ratcliffe SJ, Metz DC. Energy absorption is reduced with oleic acid supplements in human short bowel syndrome. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2009;33(1):102-8. PubMed
  15. Ben Fradj MK, Ouanes Y, Hadj-Taieb S, et al. Decreased oleic acid and marine n?-?3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Tunisian patients with urothelial bladder cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2018;70(7):1043-1050.
  16. de Silva PS, Luben R, Shrestha SS, Khaw KT, Hart AR. Dietary arachidonic and oleic acid intake in ulcerative colitis etiology: a prospective cohort study using 7-day food diaries. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;26(1):11-8. PubMed
  17. Higashi K, Shige H, Ito T, et al. Effect of a low-fat diet enriched with oleic acid on postprandial lipemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lipids. 2001;36(1):1-6. PubMed
  18. Lin HC, van Citters GW, Heimer F, Bonorris G. Slowing of gastrointestinal transit by oleic acid: a preliminary report of a novel, nutrient-based treatment in humans. Dig Dis Sci. 2001;46(2):223-9. PubMed
  19. Li D, Tong Y, Li Y. Associations between dietary oleic acid and linoleic acid and depressive symptoms in perimenopausal women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Nutrition. 2020 Mar;71:110602. PubMed

See these in context on the Oleic Acid monograph →

Borage 11 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. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.
  3. Fan YY, Chapkin RS. Importance of dietary gamma-linolenic acid in human health and nutrition. J Nutr 1998;128:1411-4.
  4. Takwale A, Tan E, Agarwal S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. BMJ 2003;327:1385. PubMed
  5. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  6. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
  7. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. PubMed
  8. Holman CP and Bell AF. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J Orhtomolecular Psych 1983;12:302-304.
  9. 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
  10. Bard, J. M., Luc, G., Jude, B., Bordet, J. C., Lacroix, B., Bonte, J. P., Parra, H. J., and Duriez, P. A therapeutic dosage (3 g/day) of borage oil supplementation has no effect on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers. Fundam.Clin.Pharmacol. 1997;1
  11. 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 Borage 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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