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Uses for Gamma Linolenic Acid

Gamma linolenic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that comes from the seed oils in various plants. The substance is often identified as blackcurrant seed oil, European black currant, polyunsaturated fatty acid or simply omega-6 fatty acid. Gamma linolenic is considered an essential part of the human diet and must be obtained through foods to achieve an ideal state of health. It is also used by people for medicinal purposes.

  1. Skin Conditions

    • Gamma linolenic acid is often used to treat systemic sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disorder that affects tissues, causing them to harden or become abnormally thick. However, the use of gamma linolenic acid may be ineffective in the treatment of scleroderma. It is also used in the treatment of eczema, but, as with scleroderma, the treatment may be ineffective. Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become dry, red and itchy. Gamma linolenic acid is often used for psoriasis, which is a condition that causes the cells of skin to grow too fast and can lead to thick patches of skin that are either white, silver or red in color. There is an insufficient amount of evidence to determine how effective the fatty acid is in treating the condition.

    Emotional and Psychiatric Conditions

    • There is also little evidence to suggest how effective Gamma linolenic acid is in the treatment of emotional and psychiatric disorders. Gamma linolenic acid is often used in the treatment of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and depression, including postpartum depression.

    Other Conditions

    • Gamma linolenic acid is used to treat polyps in the mouth and rheumatoid arthritis, which causes fatigue, pain and stiffness in the joins. It is used to lessen the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, which causes nerve problems brought on by diabetes. The treatment can prevent permanent nerve damage. Gamma linolenic acid is used to treat high blood pressure, but can possibly be ineffective in the treatment. It is also used to treat cancer, heart disease, hay fever and chronic fatigue syndrome, but there is an insufficient amount of evidence to suggest how effective it is in each of these treatments.

    Side Effects

    • Gamma linolenic acid may cause side effects in the digestive system, including diarrhea and stools that are overly soft, as well as belching and intestinal gas. Gamma linolenic acid might also affect the blood by causing it to take longer to clot, which can be particularly dangerous if the person using the fatty acid needs to have a surgery. If the blood is taking longer to clot, then there may be extra bleeding during the surgery that will take more time to come to a complete stop after the surgery is over with. Women should avoid using Gamma linolenic acid while they are pregnant, since there isn't enough evidence to suggest how safe it might be for the unborn child. Gamma linolenic acid is safest to use when doses do not exceed 2.8 grams a day for one year.

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