Evening Primrose Oil

GLA → anti-inflammatory prostaglandin pathway. EPO is rich in linoleic acid and γ-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is metabolized to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), which can give rise to anti-inflammatory eicosanoids (including series-1 prostaglandins) that may reduce mucosal inflammation. This biochemical pathway is the main theoretical reason EPO could reduce stomach inflammation. RSC Publishing ScienceDirect

Animal and preclinical gastro-protective data. Animal studies and lab work show EPO (and isolated GLA) reduced gastric ulceration and protected gastric mucosa in rat models of ulceration and injury. These preclinical results support the mechanism but do not prove human benefit. ScienceDirect

Evidence of anti-inflammatory benefit in other GI inflammatory diseases. EPO (and other fatty-acid supplements) has been tested in inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis) and other inflammatory conditions with mixed results — some trials show biological changes (changes in cell membrane fatty acids) and occasional clinical benefit, but results are inconsistent. That suggests a plausible anti-inflammatory effect in human gut tissues, but it is not definitive proof for gastritis. DeepDyve BMJ

Important: There is no established, evidence-based dose for gastritis in humans. The guidance below is pragmatic (based on common supplemental dosing for other conditions) — not a proven therapeutic protocol. Discuss with your clinician before starting.

• Formulation: Use standardized evening primrose oil capsules (check label for GLA content). Typical supplements are expressed as mg of oil and list % GLA (often 8–10% GLA). RSC Publishing
• Typical supplemental dose range (general guidance from supplement literature): 500 mg — 3,000 mg per day total (divided doses) is a common range used in trials for other conditions (e.g., eczema, PMS). If you choose to try EPO for gastritis, many people start at the lower end (e.g., 500–1,000 mg/day) and only increase under supervision. Again — there is no validated gastritis dose. WebMD Verywell Health
• Duration: Expect at least several weeks before noticing any effect if there is one (GLA incorporation into membranes and downstream effects take time). If no benefit after a reasonable trial (e.g., 8–12 weeks), discuss stopping or switching therapy. (This is pragmatic, not evidence-based for gastritis specifically.) BioMed Central
• How to take: take with food (fat-containing meal) to improve absorption of the oil. Follow the manufacturer’s product instructions. WebMD
• Monitoring: If you have ongoing gastritis symptoms (bleeding, severe pain, weight loss, vomiting, anaemia), do not substitute EPO for standard medical care — see a gastroenterologist. Use EPO only as an adjunct if your clinician agrees. Anticoagulation Europe

Practical note: because there are no robust human gastritis trials, any “protocol” is experimental. If you and your clinician agree to try EPO, treat it like a supplement trial: pick a start date, a dose, monitor symptoms and side effects, and set a follow-up review date.

Below are the most relevant peer-reviewed and review sources related to EPO and gastrointestinal inflammation. None show clear, high-quality evidence that EPO is a proven treatment for human gastritis.

1. Animal study — EPO protects gastric mucosa (preclinical)
2. “Effect of evening primrose oil on gastric ulceration and secretion” (animal work showing protective effects in rat models). This is a commonly cited preclinical study for gastric mucosal protection. ScienceDirect
3. Randomized trial in ulcerative colitis (not gastritis)
4. A randomized controlled trial compared evening primrose oil and fish oil in patients with stable ulcerative colitis — EPO changed fatty-acid profiles (biological effect) but clinical benefit was mixed. This shows EPO can change inflammatory-fatty-acid mediators in humans, but it’s a different disease (colonic inflammation, not gastric mucosa). DeepDyve
5. Systematic review of EPO for inflammatory conditions
6. A 2024 systematic review looked at EPO effects in various inflammatory diseases and summarized the RCT evidence: EPO shows biological/clinical signals in some conditions, but evidence quality varies and heterogeneity is common. It supports an anti-inflammatory potential but not a definitive clinical recommendation for gastritis. BioMed Central RSC Publishing
7. Older broad review of clinical trials with EPO
8. BMJ review summarizing many trials across conditions (atopic dermatitis, RA, ulcerative colitis, etc.), noting that results across conditions are inconsistent and often limited by small sample sizes / crossover designs. This underscores the limited strength of clinical proof. BMJ
9. Authoritative patient-facing summary on gastritis mentioning GLA
10. Patient-education sources note that “very preliminary evidence from test tube and animal studies suggests GLA from EPO may have anti-ulcer properties” but explicitly state it’s too early to apply to people with gastritis. (Good for patient context.) Anticoagulation Europe Verywell Health