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Dietary supplement

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Whole Foods

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg label
See full label image
Softgel Capsule Category: Fat/fatty Acid
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 30, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg 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

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg is a dietary supplement by Whole Foods with 1 active ingredient.Based on those ingredients, 86 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

Pharmacist-reviewed data Checks every ingredient Answer in seconds
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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods

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 23, 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 3 of its 3 active ingredients.
  • “organic Evening Primrose Oil” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (500 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.
  • “Typical Nutritional Profile:” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label doesn't break down how much of each component you get.

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg delivers three active fatty acids: gamma-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. Gamma-linolenic and linoleic acids are essential fats your body needs but can't make on its own.

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil. The product also contains three inactive ingredients — gelatin (the capsule), glycerin, and purified water — that help deliver and protect the oil.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
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

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Oleic Acid's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Oleic Acid for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Coronary heart disease (CHD) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Hypercholesterolemia — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

Oleic acid, one of this product's three active ingredients, is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease based on research data. However, we hold no effectiveness ratings for gamma-linolenic acid or linoleic acid in the facts we have on file.

If you're taking this product for a specific health goal, that ingredient's evidence should be part of your conversation with your doctor or pharmacist.

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 supplement doses haven't been well studied in pregnancy or while breastfeeding — the safety data we hold is limited to food-level amounts.

If you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for you.

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–lowering medications), check them against this product before starting — oleic acid may increase their effects and lower your blood sugar more than expected. We could not check the other two active ingredients in this product for interactions, so mention them to your pharmacist when you review your medications.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and some safety-information gaps remain.

This supplement may be worth considering if you're interested in oleic acid's possible benefits for cholesterol and heart health, but it carries a Moderate-severity interaction risk with antidiabetes drugs that can strengthen their effects. If you take any blood sugar medication, check your exact drugs against the interaction tool on this page before starting.

Chat with your doctor or pharmacist about whether the timing, dose, and monitoring would work for you.

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 Jun 24, 2016.

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 Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Whole Foods
Barcode (UPC) 099482283698
Net contents 120 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 24, 2016
DSLD ID 60772
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 Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods, 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)
UPC/BARCODE
099482283698
IngredientAmount% DV
Gamma-Linolenic Acid45 mg--
Total Fat0.5 Gram(s)1%
Linoleic Acid375 mg--
Oleic Acid35 mg--
organic Evening Primrose Oil500 mg--
Typical Nutritional Profile:0 NP--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, purified 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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

2009 Whole Foods Market IP, LP

Precautions

Tamper evident, use only if seal is intact

Allergen Information: Produced in a facility that also process tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, wheat and soy.

Note: If you are pregnant, nursing, have any health condition or are taking any medications consult your health care practitioner before using this product.

Keep out of reach of children

General

228369 401228369-A

General Statements

Please recycle this bottle

Post Consumer Recycle Bottle 100% PCR

Cold Pressed

Product of USA

Formulation

Hexane Free

Contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Formula

Natural source of Omega-6 EFAs

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Take 1 softgel, two to three times daily with food.

Storage

Store in a cool dry place

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

See for yourself

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods label

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

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg 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 Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods

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 Amounts shown are per serving.

Organic Evening Primrose Oil

500 mg per serving
  • › Typical Nutritional Profile:

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

Interaction report

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Evening Primrose Oil 500 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
86Drugs
86 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg interact with 86 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

0 of the 1 ingredient in Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible.

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Evening Primrose Oil 500 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.

The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg, from the product label.

Whole Foods

See all Whole Foods products
Name
Whole Foods Market
Street Address
550 Bowie St
City
Austin
State
TX
ZipCode
78703
Web Address
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods: Common Questions

Does Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg by Whole Foods interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg has a known interaction with 86 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Evening Primrose Oil 500 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.
Is this safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Oleic acid from foods like olive oil is considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but concentrated supplement doses haven't been studied well enough to know for sure. There isn't enough data on file for the other two ingredients either. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your specific situation — they can help you decide whether this product is right for you.
Can I take this if I'm on diabetes medication?
Oleic acid may make your blood sugar medication work more strongly, which could lower your blood sugar more than intended. Don't start this product on your own — check with your doctor or pharmacist first so they can monitor you or adjust your dose if needed.
What is gamma-linolenic acid and what does it do?
Gamma-linolenic acid is an essential fatty acid — a type of fat your body can't make itself, so you have to get it from food or supplements. Evening primrose oil is a common source of it, but we don't have effectiveness data on file for this ingredient in isolation.
Does this product contain fillers?
The capsule itself is made from gelatin and also contains glycerin and purified water as inactive ingredients — these help protect and deliver the oil inside. There are no other inactive ingredients listed.
Is oleic acid the same as olive oil?
Oleic acid is one of the main fatty acids in olive oil — the one associated with olive oil's heart-health reputation. This product contains oleic acid as an ingredient, though it comes from evening primrose oil rather than olives.

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

Not sure if Evening Primrose Oil 500 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.

Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Evening Primrose Oil 500 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 1 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 →

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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