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PART
5: Better Safe than Sorry?
I
take the cautions of Tyler and the others seriously. There
are unanswered questions regarding BO safety. Regarding health,
I prefer to err on the side of caution. At
present, there is no agreed-upon standard method for testing
pyrrolizidine content of BO. What should we ask of BO manufacturers?
- Every
batch of BO should be tested by the most sensitive and
accurate method available. High Pressure Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC) and, to verify results, Thin Layer Chromatography
(TLC) come to mind.
- More
sensitive and more accurate methods need to be developed.
- Testing
laboratories not affiliated with BO manufacturers or suppliers
should carry out the tests.
- The
testing method should be described in detail.
- The
tests should be reproducible by other labs.
- The
limits of detection should be included.
- The
results should state whether unrefined or refined BO was
tested.
Even
so, tiny doses of some molecules, far below the threshold of
detection, can have powerful effects on health. The entire
field of homeopathy is based on this observation.
Caution
is especially important in a situation where the effect of
a toxin is cumulative and the product is ingested on a continuing
basis, as is the case with BO and oil blends containing BO.
From
what I've read, I cannot consider BO to be safe and non-toxic
to humans at this time. Lack of proof of toxicity is not proof
of safety. But check out the references, and judge for yourself.
Summary:
EPO
and BO are not comparable. They are not mutually interchangeable.
Their structural makeup is different. Research has shown differences
in their chemistry and in their action. Their potential for
toxic effects is different.
These
differences between EPO and BO may help to explain why I use
expeller-pressed, unrefined EPO in Udo's Choice Oil Blend,
and why I cannot recommend nutritional products containing
either unrefined or refined BO.
I
do not like BO.
References:
- Redden PR, Lin
X, Fahey J, Horrobin DF Sterespecific analysis of the
major triacylglycerol species containing gamma-linolenic
acid in evening primrose oil and borage oil. Journal
of Chromatography, 1995; 704: 99-101.
- Fan Y-Y & Chapkin
RS Importance of Dietary Gamma-Linolenic Acid in Human
Health and Nutrition. Journal of Nutrition 1998 Sep;
128(9): 1411-14.
- Gibson RA et al Gamma
linolenic acid (GLA) content of encapsulated evening primrose
oil products. Lipids 1992 Jan; 27(1): 82-4.
- Barre DE, Holub
BJ, Chapkin RS The effect of borage oil supplementation
on human platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2, prostaglandin
E1 and E2 formation. Nutritional Research 1993;
13: 739-751.
- Belch JJ, Hill
A Evening primrose oil and borage oil in rheumatologic
conditions. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Jan
2000; 71 (1 suppl): 352S-6S.
- Fan Y-Y, Chapkin
RS Mouse peritoneal macrophage prostaglandin E1 synthesis
in altered by dietary gamma-linolenic acid. Journal of
Nutrition 1992; 122: 1600-1606.
- Engler MM Comparative
study of diets enriched with evening primrose, black current,
borage or fungal oils on blood pressure and pressor responses
in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Prostaglandins
Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1993 Oct; 49(4): 809-14.
- Dines KC, Cotter
MA, Cameron NE Effectiveness of natural oils as sources
of gamma-linolenic acid to correct peripheral nerve conduction
velocity abnormalities in diabetic rats. Prostaglandins
Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1996 Sep; 55(3): 159-65.
- Mills S & Bone
K Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal
Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, London. 2000. Pp 364-5.
- Integrative Medicine
web site: www.onemedicine.com March
2000.
- Erasmus U Fats
That Heal Fats That Kill. Alive Books, Burnaby, Canada.
1993.
- Lloyd, Ian Botanical
Contraindication s and Drug Interactions: www.pharmacyconnects.com/content/phpost/2000/03-00/ce-03-00.html Jul
2001
- Evening Primrose
Oil-Toxicity Factors: www.sbwise.com/ingredients/eveningprimroseol.html Jun
2001
- Horrobin DF Nutritional
and medicinal importance of gamma-linolenic acid. Prog
Lipid Res 1992; 31(2): 163-94.
- Gamma-Linolenic
Acid: www.mdadvice.com/library/vita/vitamin292.html Jul
2001
- Evening Primrose
Oil: www.gnc.co.uk/healthcentre/Supp/Evening_Primrose_Oil.htm Jun
2001
- Cornell University
Poison Plant web page: www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/alkaloids/pyrrolizidine.html Jul
2001
- Cornell University
Poison Plant web page: www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/manuel/alkaloid.htm Jun,
2001
- USDA/ARS Poisonous
Plant Research Laboratory web page: www.pprl.usu.edu/pa.htm Jun
2001
- Robbers JE & Tyler
VE Tyler's Herbs of Choice: the Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals.
The Hawthorn Herbal Press, Birmingham, NY. 1999. Pp 194 and
221-2.
- Letter from Varro
E Tyler, Dean and Distinguished Professor Emeritus, to the
American Botanical Council's Wayne Silverman, July 24, 1998.
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids: www.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/faqs/natural/pyr.htm Jun
2001
- Pyrrolizidine,
Quinolizine, and Indolizidine Alkaloids: www.life.uiuc.edu/plantbio/363/lecture30.html Jun
2001
- Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: www.ansci.cornell.edu/courses/as625/1997term/Sopheak/pyrol625.htm Jun
2001
- Med Nets Patient
Information web page: www.mednets.com/pyrrolizidine.htm Jul
2001
- Borage (Borage
officinalis): www.gnc.co.uk/healthcentre/enc/Herb/Borage.htm Jul
2001
- Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
and Borage Oil: www.bioriginal.com/bio_facts/pyrrolizidine.html Jul
2001
- DeSmet PAGM. Safety
of borage seed oil. Can Pharm J 1991. Vol 124, p 5.
- Newall CA, Anderson
LA, Phillipson JD Herbal Medicines: a Guide for Health-Care
Professionals. The Pharmaceutical Press, London. 1996.
p 49.
- Parvais OB et al TLC
detection of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in oil extracted form
the seeds of Borago officinalis. Journal of Plant Chromatography
Modern TLC 1994; 7(!): 80-2.
- Mierendorff HJ Determination
of pyrrolizidine alkaloids by thin-layer chromatography
in the oil of seeds of Borago officinalis. Fett Wissenschaft
Technologie 1995; 97(1): 33-7.
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