Conscious Choice: GLA

February 2001

GLA

The Hidden Giant of Radiant Health and Beauty

by Ann Louise Gittleman

Have you caught the buzz? It’s hard to miss. Health-conscious people across the country are consuming flaxseed, pumpkin seed, fatty fish, and fish oils in record amounts to get the benefits of "omega-3" essential fatty acids. Indeed, these good fats can have an amazing impact on health: the omega-3s have taken center stage for their beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, menopausal discomforts, immune system dysfunction, and cancer.

In all the hype, many people have come to believe that "omega-6" fats are "bad" and that only omega-3s are good. And it’s true that some omega-6s — primarily linoleic acid, found in many vegetable oils, grains, and seeds are bad when consumed in excess. But there is another fat in the omega-6 family that is a powerful key to vibrant health and radiant beauty: GLA, or gamma linolenic acid. In fact, your body does not simply need more omega-3s; it needs the right balance of omega-3s and GLA from the omega-6 family. If you’ve been primarily focusing on the omega-3 sources of good fats, you could very well be overlooking an amazing giant among nutrients.

The power of GLA comes from the production of anti-inflammatory, hormone-like substances called eicosanoids. This powerful family of compounds includes prostaglandins, short-lived elements that regulate metabolic processes down to the cellular level. The specific prostaglandin, PGE1, is responsible for the numerous health and beauty benefits associated with fatty acids such as the ability to soothe skin, promote healing and regulate water loss. Thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties, GLA-regulated prostaglandins help to distend blood vessels so the bloodstream can move smoothly. They also aid in restraining blood clotting as well as abating the swelling, pain, and redness caused by bodily injuries.

With GLA being so vital to the system, making sure your body has sufficient amounts of it would be a wise step. But that’s not as easy as it sounds. A number of dietary and lifestyle factors inhibit the conversion of linoleic acid to GLA: sugar consumption, smoking, alcohol, chemical carcinogens, aging, and illnesses (viral infections, cancer, diabetes, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, and hormonal fluctuations). Major metabolic roadblocks also get in the way of the conversion. Trans-fatty acids from margarine, vegetable shortening, and commercially processed vegetable oils hinder the catalysts needed for the GLA transformation: an enzyme called Delta-6-Desaturase (D6D) and its coworkers vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, zinc, and magnesium.

So if you thought your diet already had far too many omega-6s, think again. What you more than likely have is a diet loaded with commercially processed vegetable oil, shortening, and margarine — all of which are nutritionally worthless and capable of triggering an essential fatty acid deficiency. And that leads to an imbalance in prostaglandin levels, resulting in skin problems such as itching, eczema, reddish or dry patches of skin, particularly on the face, arms, legs, and buttocks. Adding insult to injury, your hair could discolor and thin, and your nails could crack and break.

Supplementation with a good source of GLA can go a long way to restoring the balance of fats our bodies were meant to have. You can readily boost your GLA levels by supplementing with botanicals like borage oil, which is the richest natural source of this beautifying nutrient.

For more than 1,500 years, the blue, star-shaped flowers of the borage plant have been used in elixirs and medicinal teas because of their healing properties. Borage oil, or "starflower," as the botanical is known, contains up to 24 percent GLA — a much higher concentration than evening primrose, which contains about 8 percent GLA, or black currant oil, which contains about 15 percent GLA.

Numerous studies conducted with borage oil demonstrate high-level efficacy whether it’s used orally or topically. Current research with oral supplements has shown that borage oil augments eicosanoid levels and thereby relieves chronic inflammation. Additional research with topical applications revealed the oil’s ability to provide the same level of improvement as it did when taken orally. Even environmentally damaged and habitually dry skin received renewed moisture and smoothness. That was also the case with forty-eight infants suffering cradle cap (dry crusts typically occurring on the scalp, face, armpits, chest, and groin area). According to one clinical study, even areas where borage oil wasn’t applied were healed, proving the oil’s ability to penetrate the skin and deliver GLA for eicosanoid synthesis.

As a matter of fact, the GLA properties contained in borage oil are so notable in enhancing skin that both the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the British Journal of Dermatology recognize its benefits.

GLA wears a variety of health-promoting hats. Here’s a summary of the nutrient’s functions:

• PMS de-stressor. Those monthly hormonal swings can disrupt GLA production. Studies suggest 480 to 960 mg of GLA every day — that’s two to four grams of borage oil — can offer relief from those irritating symptoms (such as cramps, breast tenderness, water retention, and irritability) and give hormonal production support.

• Immune booster. GLA production decreases with viral infection or illness. Supplementing with GLA helps safeguard immune defenses. In fact, when GLA (with EPA) was given to chronic fatigue sufferers, their symptoms improved dramatically.

• Cholesterol reducer. A reduction in PGE1 wreaks havoc on cholesterol levels. Taking 250 to 1,000 mg. of GLA daily has been shown to increase PGE1 levels while reducing cholesterol.

• Cancer fighter. In one study, terminally ill patients suffering from pancreatic cancer tripled their life expectancy after taking extensive doses of GLA. It is also believed that tumor growth and metastasis can be quelled with GLA — especially in melanoma and colon or breast cancer.

• Arthritis easer. Mobility, morning stiffness, and inflammation have all been eased by GLA supplementation, which helps suppress T-cell proliferation. One study also found that patients were able to reduce their usage of potentially harmful NSAIDs while they were taking GLA supplementation. Studies have found that effective dosages are in the range of 1.4 to 2.8 grams of GLA per day — the equivalent of 6 to 11 grams of borage oil daily.

• MS halter. Of the patients responding to GLA supplementation, around 40 percent experience the disease either slowing or stopping. It took higher doses of 500-1,000 mg. of GLA to achieve the benefit.

• Nerve supporter. GLA has been shown in conclusive studies to stop the progression of nerve disease and help with nerve functions. Additional studies suggest GLA may even be a catalyst in hindering nerve deterioration at the start.

In all cases, GLA must be used long-term to achieve maximum benefits. For example, many arthritis patients report that their joints feel looser after six weeks of supplementation — yet they continue to improve for many months when they continue supplementation. All signs point to GLA as an essential nutrient, every bit as important as those lovely Omega-3s.

Internationally hailed as a pioneer in dietary, environmental and women’s health issues, Ann Louise Gittleman, N.D., M.S., C.N.S., is the best-selling author of sixteen books, including: Beyond Pritikin, Super Nutrition for Women, Guess What Came to Dinner, and Your Body Knows Best. She also is the founder of the Key To Health Foundation. Her Web site is located at www.annlouise.com.

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