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Limited evidenceJoints & skin

Blackcurrant Seed Oil

A seed oil supplying gamma-linolenic acid, sold for dry skin and eczema. The best evidence for GLA oils as a class is negative, and the blackcurrant-specific trial found no benefit on its primary outcome.

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What the science says

  • Eczema and atopic dermatitis Limited evidence

    A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of oral evening primrose and borage oil, the closest and best-studied GLA sources, concluded they are no more effective than placebo for eczema and recommended against further trials of that design. This is the strongest evidence available on GLA oils for skin.

  • Prevention in infants Limited evidence

    A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial gave blackcurrant seed oil to mothers and infants to prevent atopic dermatitis in newborns. The reduction observed was modest and the trial's findings have not been replicated.

  • Dry skin and inflammation Limited evidence

    No randomized trial supports blackcurrant seed oil for general dry skin or for joint inflammation. Older small studies looked at blood pressure and immune markers rather than skin outcomes.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe infant prevention trial used a few hundred milligrams per day of blackcurrant seed oil. Typical label doses are 500–1,000 mg once or twice daily, supplying roughly 15–17% GLA.
SafetyGenerally well tolerated; loose stools, nausea and headache are the main complaints. Like other seed oils, it may modestly increase bleeding risk with anticoagulants. Very high doses of GLA oils have been associated with seizure risk in people taking phenothiazines. Not adequately studied in pregnancy.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.
With food?Take it with a meal containing fat, which both improves absorption and reduces nausea.
Worth knowingKeep it refrigerated and smell it occasionally — seed oils high in GLA oxidise quickly and a rancid capsule is worse than none.

Interactions

With medications

  • warfarin, other anticoagulants and antiplatelets

    Like other seed oils rich in polyunsaturated fat, it may modestly add to bleeding risk. tell your doctor before starting, and stop before surgery

  • phenothiazine antipsychotics

    High doses of GLA-rich oils have been linked, on limited old evidence, to lowering the seizure threshold in people on phenothiazines. talk to your doctor before combining

With other supplements

  • fish oil, evening primrose oil and other blood-thinning supplements

    Additive effect on platelet function. do not stack several at high doses

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does blackcurrant seed oil help eczema?

Probably not: a Cochrane review found that evening primrose and borage oil, the best-studied GLA oils, were no better than placebo for eczema. The trial specific to blackcurrant seed oil showed only a modest effect, so the evidence is limited.

Can blackcurrant seed oil prevent eczema in babies?

One randomized placebo-controlled trial gave blackcurrant seed oil to mothers and infants to prevent atopic dermatitis and found a modest reduction. That finding has not been replicated, so the evidence is limited.

How much blackcurrant seed oil should I take?

Typical label doses of blackcurrant seed oil are 500–1,000 mg once or twice daily, supplying roughly 15–17% GLA. Take it with a meal containing fat and keep it refrigerated, since GLA oils oxidise quickly.

Does blackcurrant seed oil have side effects or interactions?

Blackcurrant seed oil is generally well tolerated; loose stools, nausea and headache are the main complaints. It may modestly add to bleeding risk with anticoagulants, and high doses of GLA oils have been linked to seizure risk in people taking phenothiazines.

Scientific references

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