Evening primrose oil shows promiseDietary gamma-linolenic acid suppresses aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation and modifies atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.
Study relevant for heart disease
We explored the effects of dietary gamma-linolenic acid, found in evening primrose oil, on heart health in genetically modified mice prone to cardiovascular issues.
Over a period of 15 weeks, these mice were fed various diets, including those rich in gamma-linolenic acid.
Our observations showed that diets containing this oil slowed the growth of aortic smooth muscle cells and reduced the size of atherosclerotic lesions. However, overall cholesterol levels did not show significant changes.
Thus, while evening primrose oil benefits certain aspects of cardiovascular health, its impacts on overall lipid profiles remain limited.
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We investigated how evening primrose oil affects cardiovascular health in rabbits fed a high-fat diet. Over six weeks, we found that it contributed to lower cholesterol levels and improved beneficial HDL-cholesterol. Additionally, the oil boosted prostacyclin synthesis, which plays a key role in keeping blood vessels healthy.
Our analysis showed that evening primrose oil reduced platelet adhesion and the size of arterial wall lesions. This suggests it may support better vascular health by enhancing the endothelium's ability to prevent blood clots.
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We explored how dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids influence blood pressure, particularly under salt-loading conditions, using borderline hypertensive rats. In this study, we observed that evening primrose oil significantly lowered blood pressure, even below normal levels, while other oils like fish and sunflower also helped in reducing the pressor response. However, the beneficial effects did not depend on food or electrolyte intake. These findings indicate that dietary fats like evening primrose oil may help manage salt-induced blood pressure increases.
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Evening primrose oil mitigates thrombotic riskEvening primrose oil or forskolin ameliorates celecoxib-enhanced upregulation of tissue factor expression in mice subjected to lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia.
Relevant study on cardiovascular safety
We explored the impact of evening primrose oil (EPO) on the cardiovascular risks associated with celecoxib, a pain reliever linked to increased clotting factors. Using a mouse model of endotoxemia, we tested EPO alongside celecoxib for a month and found that it effectively reduced elevated tissue factor activity and overall clotting risks induced by celecoxib.
Our results suggested that combining EPO with celecoxib could provide a preventative strategy against potential thrombotic events in patients taking the medication. Overall, EPO showed promise in mitigating celecoxib's adverse cardiovascular effects.
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We evaluated the effects of evening primrose oil supplementation on platelet aggregation in rabbits fed an atherogenic diet. Over six weeks, we divided 40 male rabbits into four groups to measure platelet behavior and related factors.
Our findings revealed that the atherogenic diet significantly increased platelet aggregation. However, the addition of evening primrose oil decreased this hyperaggregation back to levels seen in rabbits with normal diets. While EPO showed promising effects on platelet function, we observed no significant long-term benefits on cardiovascular health.
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