Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 4 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Source Naturals

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

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil is a dietary supplement by Source Naturals with 4 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for heart health, healthy cooking fat, skin moisturizing.Based on those ingredients, 86 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Oleic Acid. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals

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 4 of its 4 active ingredients.
  • “Flaxseed/Primrose seed oil Complex” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (2.60 Gram(s)) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains 4 active ingredients: oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha linoleic acid, and a flaxseed/primrose seed oil complex. These are all fatty acids—the kind your body uses for cell health and hormone balance.

The supplement also contains inactive ingredients (gelatin, glycerin, and purified water) that form the softgel capsule.

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
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: omega essential fatty acids for cellular function.
  • We looked for evidence on: Coronary heart disease (CHD), Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, Stroke, Diabetes, Ulcerative colitis — and 2 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Oleic Acid is rated "Possibly Effective" for Coronary heart disease (CHD) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Oleic Acid is rated "Possibly Effective" for Hypercholesterolemia.
  • Also on file: Oleic Acid is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Diabetes, Hypertension, Ulcerative colitis, Stroke.

Oleic acid is possibly effective for high cholesterol and heart disease prevention, based on the evidence we hold. The other active ingredients in this product—linoleic acid, alpha linoleic acid, and gamma linoleic—don't have effectiveness ratings in our data, so we can't speak to how well they work for any particular condition.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient 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. However, concentrated supplement doses haven't been well studied, especially in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The safety data we hold advises caution with supplement-level amounts during pregnancy and while nursing; food amounts are considered fine. If you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for you.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient 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—insulin, pills like metformin, sulfonylureas, or any other class—check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product; oleic acid may increase their effect on your blood sugar. We could not check the other active ingredients in our data.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and some safety-information gaps remain.

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil is worth considering if you're looking to support cholesterol or heart health—oleic acid has some supporting evidence for both. If you take any diabetes medication, you'll need to check with your doctor or pharmacist first, because this product may enhance their blood-sugar-lowering effects.

The same goes if you're pregnant, nursing, or taking any other prescription drug.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 4 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Aug 23, 2023.

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 FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil, straight from the product label.

Brand Source Naturals
Barcode (UPC) 021078011422
Net contents 90 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 23, 2023
DSLD ID 295727
Product type Fat/fatty Acid
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (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 FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals, 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:
2 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
45
UPC/BARCODE
021078011422
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories25 Calorie(s)--
Total Fat2.5 Gram(s)4%
Saturated Fat0 Gram(s)1%
Trans Fat0 Gram(s)--
Linoleic Acid846 mg--
Oleic Acid260 mg--
Calories from Fat25 Calorie(s)--
Alpha Linoleic Acid880 mg--
Flaxseed/Primrose seed oil Complex2.6 Gram(s)--
Gamma Linoleic94 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water, Purified

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.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

Omega 3, 6, 9 EFA complex Flax Seed-Primrose Oil 1,300 mg

Source Naturals flaxseed-primrose oil provides omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs act as precursors to molecules such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes, which help regulate cellular function. EFAs have been shown to play a role in blood pressure maintenance, sustaining healthy skin and providing nutritional support during women's cycles. Flaxseed oil, a vegetable source of alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) and evening primrose oil, a natural source of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), provide a potent combination of EFAs.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: 1 to 2 softgels twice daily with meals.

Precautions

Do not use if tamper evident seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Note: If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or breastfeeding, consult your health care professional before using this product.

Formulation

Hypoallergenic: Contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, corn, soy or wheat. Contains no sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, or artificial color, flavor or fragrance.

Hypoallergenic: Contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, corn, soy or wheat. Contains no sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, or artificial color, flavor or fragrance.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Brand IP Statement(s)

Copyright Source Naturals, Inc.

See for yourself

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals

These are the 4 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container45 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Flaxseed/Primrose seed oil Complex

2.6 Gram(s) per serving
  • › Linoleic Acid
  • Oleic Acid
  • › Alpha Linoleic Acid
  • › Gamma Linoleic

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

Interaction report

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against FlaxSeed-Primrose 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
86Drugs
86 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in FlaxSeed-Primrose 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.

Oleic Acid1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, oleic acid might increase the effects of antidiabetes drugs. Preliminary clinical research in patients with type 2 diabetes taking oral hypoglycemic drugs shows that eating a diet rich in oleic acid from olive oil decreases fasting blood glucose levels when compared to eating a diet rich in linoleic acid from sunflower oil. It is unknown if taking oleic acid supplements would have this effect or if this change is clinically significant. Until more is known, use caution. Dose adjustment may be necessary. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil, from the product label.

Source Naturals

Name
Source Naturals, Inc.
Street Address
P. O. Box 2118
City
Santa Cruz
State
CA
ZipCode
95062
Web Address
www.sourcenaturals.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals: Common Questions

Does FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil by Source Naturals interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil 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?
FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil contains 4 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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?
Oleic acid, one of the active ingredients, is possibly effective for high cholesterol based on the evidence we have. It may also support heart health. That said, supplement results vary by person, and it's smart to talk with your doctor about whether it fits your overall cholesterol plan.
Is it safe to take if I'm on diabetes medication?
Not without checking first. Oleic acid may increase how well your diabetes drugs work, which could lower your blood sugar more than expected. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you start; they'll help you figure out if it's safe for you and whether your dose needs adjusting.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data we hold says supplement-level doses haven't been well studied in pregnancy and breastfeeding, so there isn't enough information to know either way. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice based on your situation.
What's the difference between this and fish oil?
This product is made from flaxseed and primrose seed oils—plant-based sources of fatty acids. Fish oil comes from fish and has a different fatty-acid profile. Which one is right for you depends on your health goals and what your doctor recommends.
Are there any fillers or other ingredients I should know about?
The capsule itself is made from gelatin, glycerin, and purified water. If you're vegan or have gelatin sensitivities, that's worth noting. The active ingredients are the oils and fatty acids listed on the label.

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

Not sure if FlaxSeed-Primrose 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.

FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind FlaxSeed-Primrose Oil’s Ingredients

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

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

FlaxSeed-Primrose 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 19 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 →

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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