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Evening primrose oil is taken for breast pain, hot flushes and skin problems. Evidence is mixed for each, and in cancer the few trials are small: one in liver cancer showed no effect on the tumour or survival. It can increase bleeding with blood thinners, and some products add plant oestrogens, so check the label if your cancer is hormone-sensitive.
Evening primrose oil is about 10 per cent gamma-linolenic acid. Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs entry reports mixed or limited evidence for eczema, breast pain, premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms: it may reduce hot flush intensity in one study, while other data suggest exercise and lifestyle approaches give better relief. It may reduce skin reactions to azacitidine in myelodysplastic syndrome. Studies in cancer are limited: a trial in liver cancer showed no effect on tumour size or survival, and another suggested gamma-linolenic acid may be an effective adjunct in breast cancer, which has not been confirmed. The oil has no intrinsic oestrogenic activity, but some commercial products combine it with phytoestrogens, so MSK advises caution in hormone-sensitive cancers. It may add to anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects (bleeding time rose significantly in 9 of 12 people taking gamma-linolenic acid for several months), was associated with higher blood pressure in a large population study, and raises levels of antiretroviral drugs. It should not be taken in pregnancy; side effects are mild digestive upset and headache, with one case of lipoid pneumonia after chronic use.
Gamma-linolenic acid is converted to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, and inhibits platelet aggregation.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"Evening primrose oil" OR ABSTRACT:"Evening primrose oil" OR TITLE:"Oenothera biennis" OR ABSTRACT:"Oenothera biennis" OR TITLE:"Gamma-linolenic acid" OR ABSTRACT:"Gamma-linolenic acid") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Evening primrose oil, not a curated reading list.
Shares Dong quai, Acupuncture for hot flushes on endocrine therapy, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Chasteberry, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Acupuncture for hot flushes on endocrine therapy, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Acupuncture for hot flushes on endocrine therapy, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Chasteberry, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
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