Borage seed oil

Borage/Drug Interactions:

  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: Based on an in vitro study of 25 botanical aqueous extracts, borage may have antibacterial effects against Helicobacter pylori (12).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: According to a review article and a study on GLA (source unspecified), borage seed oil may potentially increase the risk of bleeding or potentiate the effects of warfarin therapy (21; 32). However, in a study of healthy volunteers, the therapeutic dosage of 3g daily of borage oil supplementation did not affect platelet aggregation (33).
  • Anticonvulsant agentsAnticonvulsant agents: Based on a review, borage may lower the seizure threshold (22).
  • Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: Based on a review, borage oil may have anti-inflammatory properties (25).
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: Based on a study of GLA in humans, GLA (source unspecified) may decrease plasma triglyceride levels and may increase HDL-cholesterol concentration (32).
  • Antiulcer agentsAntiulcer agents: Based on an in vitro study of 25 botanical aqueous extracts, borage may have antibacterial effects against Helicobacter pylori (12).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: In a randomized, double-blind study, normotensive subjects ingested 4.5mL daily for four weeks to assess the effects of dietary safflower (control, N=10), borage (N=9), and fish oil (N=10) on cardiovascular responses to lower-body negative pressure (34). Borage oil significantly altered plasma norepinephrine and vasoconstrictor responses to -40 mmHg lower-body negative pressure, as well as the reflex vasodilation on its cessation. The authors hypothesize that borage oil may augment arterial baroreflex control of vascular resistance.
  • ImmunomodulatorsImmunomodulators: Based on in vitro, animal, and clinical studies, GLA from borage oil may dose-dependently reduce immunological responses (8; 23; 24; 10).
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs)Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs): Based on conclusions reached in a review, concomitant non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use may undermine borage oil effects (25).
  • WarfarinWarfarin: According to a review article, borage seed oil may potentially increase the risk of bleeding or potentiate the effects of warfarin therapy (21). However, in a study of healthy volunteers, the therapeutic dosage of 3g daily of borage oil supplementation did not affect platelet aggregation (33).

    • Borage/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: Based on an in vitro study of 25 botanical aqueous extracts, borage may have antibacterial effects against Helicobacter pylori (12).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: According to a review article and a study on GLA (source unspecified), borage seed oil may potentially increase the risk of bleeding or potentiate the effects of warfarin therapy (21; 32). However, in a study of healthy volunteers, the therapeutic dosage of 3g daily of borage oil supplementation did not affect platelet aggregation (33).
  • AnticonvulsantsAnticonvulsants: Based on a review, borage may lower the seizure threshold (22).
  • Anti-inflammatory herbsAnti-inflammatory herbs: Based on a review, borage oil may have anti-inflammatory properties (25).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: Based on a study of GLA in humans, GLA (source unspecified) may decrease plasma triglyceride levels and may increase HDL-cholesterol concentration (32).
  • Antiulcer agentsAntiulcer agents: Based on an in vitro study of 25 botanical aqueous extracts, borage may have antibacterial effects against Helicobacter pylori (12).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: In a randomized, double-blind study, normotensive subjects ingested 4.5mL daily for four weeks to assess the effects of dietary safflower (control, N=10), borage (N=9), and fish oil (N=10) on cardiovascular responses to lower-body negative pressure (34). Borage oil significantly altered plasma norepinephrine and vasoconstrictor responses to -40 mmHg lower-body negative pressure, as well as the reflex vasodilation on its cessation. The authors hypothesize that borage oil may augment arterial baroreflex control of vascular resistance.
  • ImmunomodulatorsImmunomodulators: Based on in vitro, animal, and clinical studies, GLA from borage oil may dose-dependently reduce immunological responses (8; 23; 24; 10).

    • Borage/Food Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Borage/Lab Interactions:

  • Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: According to a review article and a study on GLA (source unspecified), borage seed oil may potentially increase the risk of bleeding or potentiate the effects of warfarin therapy (21; 32). However, in a study of healthy volunteers, the therapeutic dosage of 3g daily of borage oil supplementation did not affect platelet aggregation (33).
  • Helicobacter pylori testsHelicobacter pylori tests: Based on an in vitro study of 25 botanical aqueous extracts, borage may have antibacterial effects against Helicobacter pylori (12).
  • Immunology testsImmunology tests: Based on in vitro, animal, and clinical studies, GLA from borage oil may dose-dependently reduce immunological responses, including levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10, leukotriene B4, and T lymphocytes (8; 23; 24; 10).
  • Lipid panelLipid panel: Based on a study of GLA in humans, GLA (source unspecified) may decrease plasma triglyceride levels and may increase HDL-cholesterol concentration (32).