Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Evening Primrose? Is Evening Primrose safe for nursing mother and child? Does Evening Primrose extracts into breast milk? Does Evening Primrose has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Evening Primrose influence milk supply or can Evening Primrose decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About Evening Primrose usage in lactation

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Evening primrose oil (EPO) has no specific lactation-related uses. It is most often used for premenstrual syndrome, cyclical mastalgia, and atopic dermatitis. Supplementation of nursing mothers with EPO for 8 months increased the breastmilk content of linoleic acid and total GLA plus its metabolite, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and caused no adverse reactions in the breastfed infants.[1] Supplementation of mothers with GLA had no effect on the development of atopic dermatitis in their breastfed infants.[2] Evening primrose oil is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Heating breastmilk to 63.5 degrees C reduces the concentration of linolenic acid by about 22%. Freezing milk at -20 degrees C and thawing more than once decreases linolenic acid concentration by an average of 63%.[3] Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information #about dietary supplements# is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.

Evening Primrose Side Effects in Breastfeeding

Eighteen nursing mothers took EPO 2 grams daily for 8 months starting at an average of 3.4 months postpartum. After 8 months of supplementation, no adverse reactions were reported in their breastfed infants.[1]

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Basil(Unsafe)
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Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Oregano(Low Risk)
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Ginger(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Aloe(Low Risk)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Calendula(Safe)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Sage(Low Risk)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Caraway(Safe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Cumin(Safe)
Hops(Low Risk)
Lecithin(Safe)
Castor(Unsafe)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Basil(Unsafe)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Garlic(Safe)
Ginger(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.