biochemistry of supplement- evening primrose oil - Vitamins & Supplements Message Board

fishyfishy · 08-01-2002, 02:10 AM

Hi there,
Does anybody happen to know about the evening primrose oil? or even gamma linolenic acid {GLA}? its taken or rather recommended for acne n most of the time, for PMS. i would really like to find out the pathway it takes once taken into the body, the enzymes involved n how it eventually bring about the expected changes in the body....Even any recommendation for books or libraries would help alot...cos i'm really desperate for an answer! tanx!

Jay Tor · 08-02-2002, 05:57 PM

Trying doing a search on a med/sci engine [e.g. scirus].

Journal: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, Feb 2000 [Article on GLA];

Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Apr 1995 [Prostaglandins of the E series (PGE) inhibit the migration and function of PMN and MNC. Both the PGE-agonist misoprostol and gamma-linoleic acid can lead to an improvement in inflammatory skin.]

Another heading to investigate is physiologic lipids e.g. eicosanoids [plus, di- and tri-enoic acids]; this is a major section in any human biochem text.

fishyfishy · 08-05-2002, 11:53 AM

tanx lots! actualy im a first year student in NTU (singapore); majoring in biology. was given the assignment to find out about diet supplements n had picked EPO. the info u provided certainly helped=) sorry but can i juat ask 1 question? izzit tt EPO supplies us with GLA, whereas linoleic acid supplies us with arachidonic acid? both of which are precursors of prostaglandins...

NB: really tanx 4 ur attention to my questions

Jay Tor · 08-05-2002, 04:21 PM

Sorry. But if this is a school assignment, I'm not sure I should be volunteering any answers. Plus, it's complicated!

Look up lipid synthesis, or metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids & eicosanoids [i.e. eicosapentaeoic acid and series 3 prostaglandins]. Harper's Biochemistry 1996 Ed. has an entire chapter on this.

fishyfishy · 08-06-2002, 06:54 AM

tanx!!!=)