Borage oil
Borago officinalis (oil)
Mechanism
Borage oil (Borago officinalis) is the plant source with the highest known natural content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, and is traditionally used like evening primrose oil to support skin and coat. Safety-relevant: the borage plant contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). However, these pass only to a small extent into the seed oil, and the refining/purification process lowers the PA content again drastically — in studies by roughly a factor of 30,000 to below the limit of detection. Therefore only purified seed oils tested as PA-free or PA-low may be used, never herb, flowers or unpurified pressed material. Robust equine efficacy studies are lacking; its use is derived from human/experiential data.
Cautions
- · IMPORTANT: Borage contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) — use exclusively purified seed oil tested as PA-free/PA-low with a batch certificate (CoA), never herb/flowers
- · GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid — mind the omega-6/omega-3 ratio of the overall ration
- · Prone to oxidation — store cool and dark; discard once it smells rancid
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is Borage oil a feed or a veterinary medicine for horses?
Equiterna classes Borage oil as “Complementary feed”. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009.
Is Borage oil allowed at FEI competitions?
In the profile, Borage oil is listed with the FEI status “Not listed”. The current FEI list is authoritative, so please check its latest version.
Which dosage do the sources give for Borage oil?
Stated in the profile: product-specific; in practice approx. 15–30 ml/animal/day (large horse), introduced gradually — only purified, PA-tested seed oil. This is information from the literature, not an instruction for an individual horse.
Which sources are there for Borage oil?
The profile cites: EFSA Compendium 2009 and Wretensjö & Karlberg 2003.
Usage note
This content is for information and education. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your horse shows signs of illness, consult a veterinarian.
“Nothing forced can ever be beautiful.”
Equiterna is an intermediary platform for equine knowledge, marketplace and tools — not a veterinary-medicines dealer, veterinary practice or pharmacy. Compound information is source-attributed (PubMed, specialist journals, NRC/GfE, EU regulations) and free of healing claims. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009, FEI Prohibited Substances List, HWG.