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Dietary supplement

Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Martin Avenue Pharmacy

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

Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg is a dietary supplement by Martin Avenue Pharmacy 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 Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy

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 (1,000 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This softgel contains 3 active ingredients: gamma-linolenic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid — all fatty acids naturally found in borage seed oil. These are the working components.

The capsule itself is made from gelatin, glycerin, and water, which are inactive ingredients that help deliver the oil.

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: Natural source of essential fatty acids.
  • We looked for evidence on: Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Stress, Skin health, Anti-inflammatory support, Joint health.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

Oleic acid (one of the active fatty acids in this product) is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease based on the data we hold. We don't have effectiveness ratings for the other two ingredients — gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid — in our records.

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 recognized as safe in normal amounts. At higher supplement doses, though, safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding is limited.

There isn't enough information on file to know whether the dose in this product is safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're pregnant, planning to become 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 (blood sugar medications), you should double-check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this supplement — oleic acid may increase how strongly these medications work.

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 supplement may be worth considering if you're interested in heart health support, especially if you have high cholesterol or heart disease risk. If you take antidiabetes medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist first — this product might enhance their effect and require a dose adjustment.

Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescription medications should discuss it with their own healthcare provider.

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 Feb 25, 2013.

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 Seed Oil 1000 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Martin Avenue Pharmacy
Net contents 60 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Feb 25, 2013
DSLD ID 18810
Product type Fat/fatty Acid
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other
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 Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy, 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)
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories9 {Calories}--
Calories from Fat9 {Calories}--
Gamma-Linolenic Acid220 mg--
Total Fat1 g2%
Oleic Acid160 mg--
Linoleic Acid380 mg--
Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil1000 mg--

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.
General Statements

Natural Source of Essential Fatty Acids

It is derived from the seeds of the borage plant, one of the richest known sources of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).

QUALITY AND POTENCY GUARANTEED

"We Make It Better..."

Formulation

Our Borage Seed Oil is 100% pure expeller pressed and Hexane Free.

This product contains no added sugar, salt, dairy, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, adults take one (1) capsule, one (1) or two (2) times daily with meals, or as directed by a health care professional.

Storage

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

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

General

#10018

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy

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

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

Borage (Borago officinalis) seed oil

Interacts with
226 drugs
1000 mg 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
  • › Oleic Acid
  • › Linoleic Acid

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

Interaction report

Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Borage Seed Oil 1000 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 Seed Oil 1000 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 Seed Oil 1000 mg, from the product label.

Martin Avenue Pharmacy

See all Martin Avenue Pharmacy products
Name
Martin Avenue Pharmacy, Inc.
City
Naperville
State
IL
ZipCode
60540
Phone Number
(630) 355-6400
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy: Common Questions

Does Borage Seed Oil 1000 mg by Martin Avenue Pharmacy interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Borage Seed Oil 1000 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 Seed Oil 1000 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.
Will this help my cholesterol or heart health?
Oleic acid in this product is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease based on research we have on file. That doesn't guarantee it will work for you — talk with your doctor about whether it might fit your specific situation.
Is it safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough safety data to know whether the supplement dose in this product is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing.
What does this supplement actually do?
It delivers three fatty acids — gamma-linolenic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid — that are naturally present in borage seed. Oleic acid has some research backing its use for cholesterol and heart health, but we don't have effectiveness data on file for the other two.
Will this interact with my blood sugar medication?
Yes — oleic acid may increase how well antidiabetes drugs work, which means your blood sugar could drop lower than expected. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you're on any blood sugar medication.
What are the inactive ingredients?
The capsule is made from gelatin, glycerin, and water. These help deliver the active fatty acids but don't have a therapeutic role.

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

Not sure if Borage Seed Oil 1000 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 Seed Oil 1000 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Borage Seed Oil 1000 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 12 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 1 reference
  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

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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