ABSTRACT
The excitement generated by reports of clinical improvement of patients with atopic eczema after oral administration of primrose oil (5,6) signalled a possible role for GLA-containing oil in cutaneous biology. To evolve clear biochemical mechanisms for this dietary PUFA, we embarked on a progressive series of studies to delineate whether a relationship exists between the dietary intake of three vegetable oils: (i) safflower oil (containing predominantly 18:2n-6), (ii) primrose oil (containing 18:2n-6 and 18:3n6), and (iii) borage oil (also containing predominantly 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-6), and the generation of oxidative metabolites of GLA with anti-inflammatory properties.
