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4 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Most Borage Oil studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 1993–2013 with a typical study size of 37 participants.
Based on 4 studies · 1 RCT · 1,662 total participants
Confidence
LowBy outcome
Newest study from 2013
This Cochrane review of 27 trials concluded that oral borage oil and evening primrose oil lack effect on eczema, with improvement no better than placebo.
Bamford JT, Ray S, Musekiwa A, van Gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E · Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2013)
This Cochrane review found moderate evidence that GLA-containing oils — including borage, evening primrose, and blackcurrant seed oil — afford some benefit in relieving rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Cameron M, Gagnier JJ, Chrubasik S · Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2011)
High-dose GLA from borage seed oil produced clinically meaningful reductions in tender and swollen joints in rheumatoid arthritis, while placebo patients did not improve.
Leventhal LJ, Boyce EG, Zurier RB · Ann Intern Med (1993)
Two months of borage oil consumption produced a statistically significant ~11% reduction in transepidermal water loss, indicating improved skin-barrier function in elderly people.
Brosche T, Platt D · Arch Gerontol Geriatr (2000)