Potential Risk of Prolonged Gamma-linolenic Acid Use
Authors: Stephen Phinney
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

Letters15 April 1994Potential Risk of Prolonged Gamma-linolenic Acid UseStephen Phinney, MD, PhDStephen Phinney, MD, PhDUniversity of California, Davis; School of Medicine; Davis, CA 95616Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-120-8-199404150-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The report by Leventhal and colleagues [1] did not address the potential risk of arachidonate accretion associated with prolonged use of γ-linolenic acid. Because elongase is more active than delta-5-desaturase, the dihomo-γ-linolenic acid content of tissue lipids is increased during administration of borage oil, and some of this is metabolized further to arachidonate. We found that 2 g/d of γ-linolenic acid given to previously obese women increased the arachidonate content of their serum phospholipids [2]. Gamma-linolenic acid given to obese Zucker rats increased adipose triglyceride arachidonate fivefold compared with controls and reduced their food intake [3]. Elevated ...References1. Leventhal LJ, Boyce EG, Zurler RB. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med. 1993; 119:867-73. Google Scholar2. Phinney SD, Davis PG, Johnson SB, Holman RT. Phospholipid arachidonate deficiency in human obesity responds to γ-linolenate supplementation. Int J Obesity. 1989; 13:402. Google Scholar3. Phinney SD, Tang AB, Thurmond DC, Nakamura MT, Stern JS. Abnormal polyunsaturated lipid metabolism in the obese Zucker rat with partial metaboic correction by γ-linolenate supplementation. Metabolism. 1993; 42:1340-50. Google Scholar4. Borkman M, Storlien LH, Pan DA, Jenkins AB, Chisholm DJ, Campbell LV. The relation between insulin sensitivity and fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle phospholipids. N Engl J Med. 1993; 328:238-44. Google Scholar5. Kinsella JE. Lipids, membranee receptors, and enzymes: effects of dietary fatty acids. J Parenteral Enteral Nutr. 1990; 14:200s-17s. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of California, Davis; School of Medicine; Davis, CA 95616 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByDifferent effects of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) supplementation on plasma and red blood cell phospholipid fatty acid composition and calcium oxalate kidney stone risk factors in healthy subjects from two race groups with different risk profiles pose questions about the GLA-arachidonic acid-oxaluria metabolic pathway: pilot studyOral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczemaHow to use the monographsEvening Primrose Oil or other essential fatty acids for the treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)Evening Primrose Oil or other essential fatty acids for the treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for atopic eczemaNUTRITION AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASEEvening Primrose Oil or other essential fatty acids for the treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)Alternative drug use for the climacteric in Finland10 Nutrition and ulcerative colitis_-Linolenic Acid, Inflammation, Immune Responses, and Rheumatoid ArthritisBotanical lipids: Effects on inflammation, immune responses, and rheumatoid arthritis 15 April 1994Volume 120, Issue 8Page: 692KeywordsFatty acidsInflammationInsulin resistanceLipidsMusclesOilsOverweightPhospholipidsRisk managementThrombosis Issue Published: 15 April 1994 CopyrightCopyright © 1994 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...