ConsumerLab Tests Identify Best Black Currant, Borage, Evening Primrose Flax and Hemp Oils

White Plains, NY, January 23, 2025 —  Black currant, borage, evening primrose, flax, and hemp oils contain omega-3, -6, and/or -9 fatty acids that, when replacing saturated fats in the diet, may help reduce cardiovascular risk. When sold as supplements, these oils are also promoted to help with dry eye, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions, although evidence is preliminary.
 

To identify the best products, ConsumerLab recently purchased and tested 11 black currant, borage, evening primrose, flax and hemp oil supplements, checking if they contained their expected amounts of fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Bottled oils were additionally tested to make sure they were not rancid, and products containing whole herbs or significant amounts of minerals were tested for contamination with the toxic heavy metals lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.

Key Findings:

• Most, but not all products, were of high quality: Most products passed ConsumerLab’s tests, but one product contained only 69.1% of its listed GLA and 74.3% of its listed omega-9.
• Contamination and Spoilage: None of the products exceeded CL's strict limits for lead, arsenic, cadmium or mercury, and bottled oils were found to be below limits that indicate spoilage (rancidity).
• Cost Does Not Indicate Quality: The cost to obtain a 500-mg dose of ALA from the tested products ranged from 4 cents to more than $1.00, and the cost to obtain a 200-mg dose of GLA ranged from 11 to over 40 cents, but testing showed that price was not an indicator of quality.

Among products that passed all tests and were Approved, ConsumerLab selected Top Picks for black currant, borage, evening primrose, flax and hemp oil based on quality and cost.
 

Access the Full Report:

ConsumerLab’s full Black Currant, Borage, Evening Primrose, Flax and Hemp Oil Review can now be accessed online by ConsumerLab.com members – who now number over 100,000.

The report includes test results and comparisons for 11 products providing omega-3, -6, and/or -9 fatty acids. Ten products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Barlean's Flax Oil, Flora Udo's Choice Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend, Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Nature Made Flaxseed Oil 1,400 mg, Nordic Naturals Borage Oil, NOW Borage Oil 1,000 mg, Solaray Black Currant Seed Oil, Solgar Evening Primrose Oil 1,300 mg, Swanson Black Currant Seed Oil, and 365 [Whole Foods Market] Organic Flax Oil – Filtered. One additional product passed the same testing and was Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: Life Extension Mega GLA.

As explained in the Review, black currant, borage, evening primrose, flax, and hemp oils contain predominately healthful, polyunsaturated fats such as the omega-3 fatty acid ALA (as from flax) and/or the omega-6 fatty acid GLA (as from evening primrose), which, when used to replace saturated fats in the diet, may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. There is also preliminary evidence that these omega fatty acids may help with acne, ADHD, dry eye, bipolar disorder, diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. However, consuming these oils as a supplement (rather than use in preparing foods) is not associated with any general health benefits, and omega-6 fatty acids can, potentially, have an inflammatory effect. The Review also discusses how to get these fatty acids from foods, what to look for on product labels, and safety, side effects, and drug interactions with these oils.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.