Omega-6
Omega-6 supplements with GLA from starflower (borage) oil and evening primrose oil, plus omega 3-6-9 blends. We explain which form suits you, why GLA differs from the linoleic acid in cooking oils, and how to take it.Read more →
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Linoleic acid, GLA and the omega-6 forms worth choosing
Omega-6 is a family of polyunsaturated fats. The one your body cannot make itself is linoleic acid, or LA. It sits in sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, nuts, seeds and eggs. Most people in the UK already eat plenty of it. So an omega-6 supplement is rarely about topping up linoleic acid.
What buyers are usually after is GLA, short for gamma-linolenic acid. Your body can build GLA from linoleic acid, but that step is slow in some people. GLA also barely appears in everyday food. That is why it is sold as pressed seed oil in softgels, alongside the rest of our range of essential fats.
The forms you will find here
- Starflower oil, also sold as borage seed oil capsules: the highest GLA share of the common seed oils, so you need fewer capsules for the same amount of GLA.
- Evening primrose oil: a lower GLA share, so a gentler step up. Often chosen by people who prefer a smaller daily amount.
- Combinations with omega-3: fish oil or flaxseed oil together with a GLA oil, in one softgel.
- Omega 3-6-9 formulas: small amounts of each fat. Sensible as general cover, less suitable if you want a specific GLA amount.
How we pick omega-6 for our shelves
We look at three things: the form, the amount and whether the combination makes sense. For omega-6 that means we want the GLA content stated on the label, not just the oil weight. A 1000 mg capsule tells you nothing until you know its GLA percentage. We prefer cold-pressed oils, because heat and solvents damage delicate fats, and we like vitamin E in the formula since it protects the oil in the capsule. We buy straight from the brands, our compliance team checks every product before it goes live, and independent labs spot-check batches. You can read how we select brands and products.
Who it suits, and what it will not do
An omega-6 supplement makes most sense if you want GLA specifically. If your goal is general fat balance, an omega-3 supplement from fish or algae is usually the better first purchase, because omega-3 is the one most UK diets fall short on. Many people take both.
We should be straight with you about claims. There is no approved European claim for GLA. The one approved omega-6 claim is for linoleic acid: linoleic acid contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels, with the effect obtained at 10 g of LA per day. That is a food-level amount, far above what a GLA capsule provides. So buy GLA oils for the GLA, not for a cholesterol effect.
Fats also work slowly. Cell membranes renew over weeks, so give any omega-6 supplement two to three months of daily use before you judge it. Take it with a meal that contains some fat, keep the bottle cool and dark, and treat a rancid or sharply fishy smell as a reason to replace it.
Frequently asked questions
Omega-6 is a group of polyunsaturated fats. The parent fat is linoleic acid. It is called essential because your body cannot make it, so it has to come from food. From linoleic acid your body builds other omega-6 fats, including GLA and arachidonic acid. In the UK, linoleic acid comes mainly from vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, eggs and grains. Supplements in this collection focus on GLA, the omega-6 that is hard to get from an ordinary plate.
