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

EFSA Compendium 2009EFSA (2009) Compendium of botanicals — Borago officinalis als PA-haltige Spezies gelistet

Wretensjö & Karlberg 2003Wretensjö & Karlberg, J Am Oil Chem Soc — PA-Gehalt in rohem vs. raffiniertem Borretschöl sinkt um ca. Faktor 30.000 unter die Nachweisgrenze

Equiterna Score

51/100

limited

Science4.5/10

Practical experience6/10

Safety5/10

Overall score scale

high overall75–100solid55–74limited0–54

How the Equiterna Score is built

The Equiterna Score combines three dimensions into a value of 0-100: science (40%), practical experience (30%) and safety (30%). It is transparently derived from evidence level, attributed sources (PubMed/journals), legal classification and cautions. The FEI doping status is shown separately as a competition-law note and does not enter the score. Commissions and vendor relationships have no influence on the score. In addition, the editorial safety rating caps the result: it limits the safety dimension and the overall tier (orange: at most solid). For entries rated red, no score is calculated at all. The rating never raises anything — a green rating does not lift a calculated value.

An editorial assessment of the evidence and safety situation — not a healing claim and not an individual recommendation. It does not replace veterinary advice.

Dosageproduct-specific; in practice approx. 15–30 ml/animal/day (large horse), introduced gradually — only purified, PA-tested seed oil

AMG statusComplementary feed

FEI statusNot listed

SafetyIncreased caution

Evidenceemerging

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.”

Xenophon · On Horsemanship (c. 365 BC)

Equiterna is an intermediary platform for equine knowledge, marketplace and tools — not a veterinary-medicines dealer, veterinary practice or pharmacy. Compound information is study-attributed and free of healing claims. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009, FEI Prohibited Substances List, HWG.