Flaxseed oil and other popular seed oil are commonly used supplements that provide omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and may help with inflammatory conditions. But which seed oil supplements are the best? 

To find out, ConsumerLab.com recently tested popular flaxseed oil, black currant oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, and hemp oil supplements sold in the U.S. and Canada. The most common problem found was a lack of freshness, as indicated by high levels of oxidation in several products—one of which was also found to contain less than its listed amounts of particular fatty acids.
 
The findings are available online now in ConsumerLab.com’s Black Currant Oil, Borage Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Flaxseed Oil, and Hemp Oil Supplements Review. 

Flaxseed and hemp oils are good sources of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Black currant, borage, and evening primrose oils are good sources of the omega-6 fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). Preliminary evidence suggests seed oil supplements containing these fatty acids may be helpful for rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, dry eye, and other conditions. 

The new Review summarizes the clinical evidence for these oils, dosage information, potential side effects and drug interactions, tips for what to look for on labels and how to properly store these supplements. Included in the review are test results and quality comparisons for 27 supplements. These include 17 selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com (including two products for pets) and 10 that passed the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program, plus information about a product that is similar to another that passed testing.