Omega-6 fatty acids are well-supplied in the diet by meat and vegetable oils. However, not all omega-6 fatty acids are of equal value. Arachidonic acid (AA) tends to be unhealthy because it is the precursor of inflammatory eicosanoids, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane A2, and leukotriene B4, which promote inflammation. In contrast, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), found in evening primrose oil, borage oil, and black currant oil, is an important fatty acid that plays a beneficial role in healthy prostaglandin (PGE1) formation and pro-inflammatory mediator reduction.

Health conscious people have been supplementing with gamma linolenic acid (GLA) for years for its ability to ease inflammation. GLA is essential for the formation of healthy prostaglandins, without which imbalances of destructive pro-inflammatory prostaglandins may result in increased inflammation in the body. Borage oil is an abundant source of GLA.

Life Extension’s Mega GLA provides 285 mg of GLA plus 10 mg of sesame lignans. These sesame lignans facilitate the formation of the beneficial biologically active derivative of GLA, DGLA (di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid), and they also help reduce the production of pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid, which is responsible for the formation of destructive prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4. Numerous studies have documented GLA’s multiple health effects and information regarding the ability of sesame to prevent the conversion of DGLA into arachidonic acid indicates that the addition of sesame lignans to Life Extension’s Mega GLA may provide even greater relief than GLA alone.