Effect of primrose oil on serum lipids and blood pressure in hyperlipidemic subjects.

Primrose oil (about 72% of fatty acids 18:2 omega 6 and 9% of 18:3 omega 6) was supplemented in addition to the used diet of 20 hyperlipidemic patients for 3 months in an open study. The dose of primrose oil was 2.4 ml, 4.8 ml and 7.2 ml during the first, second and third month, respectively. Primrose oil increased the proportion of gamma-linolenic acid in serum cholesteryl esters (1.81 vs. 2.13%, p less than 0.05), phospholipids (0.65 vs. 0.82%, p less than 0.01), triglycerides (0.70 vs. 0.99%, p less than 0.01) and free fatty acids (0.80 vs. 0.91%, NS). It did not, however, change serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or triglyceride mean values. Blood pressure mean values remained unchanged during the follow-up as well.