Exploring the Health Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil

4. Reducing Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms?

Older evidence supports evening primrose oil as a potential treatment for some premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, such as bloating, irritability, and depression. Researchers felt these effects stemmed from GLA becoming prostaglandin E1 in the body, preventing the hormone prolactin from triggering PMS symptoms.

A 2010 study found that a combination of vitamins and evening primrose oil was effective in alleviating the effects of PMS. However, the oil may not be responsible for the majority of these benefits, as systematic reviews claim there is little evidence supporting these findings.