Dietary Supplement, Black Currant, 500 mg, 90 soft gels

As we age, our ability to make gamma linoleic acid (GLA) starts to wane. Our skin, hair, and nails can get dryer and thinner along with other lovely side effects. I decided to try a GLA oil to see if I could see any skin improvement in texture or moisture. I checked out borage oil and evening primrose oil (EPO) as well. While borage oil has the highest yield of GLA per milligram, there is no omega-3 as in black currant, and there is always the possibility of left over pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that may contribute to liver damage. EPO is the weakest of the GLA oils, plus it can have undesirable estrogenic effects. Black currant oil is right in the middle; good yield of GLA plus omega-3 and no known side effects.It's important to know that this black currant oil is NOT hexane-extracted, like NOW Foods and many others. It is cold-pressed, much like olive oil, so you are left with clean, pure BCO.The 500mg size is a great for folks who have problems swallowing larger softgels.It allows you to take one in the morning and one at night, if you wish. I like being able to split the dose. For those who want the "one and done" experience, they come in a 1,000mg version too:  Health from the Sun Black Currant Oil 1000mg, 60-Count . (Solaray, a sister company of Health from the Sun, also makes a great compact 600mg size softgel using the same pure cold-pressed method. You can find it here:  Solaray Hexane Free Black Currant Seed Oil Gla, 90 mg, 90 Count .)My only "beef" with this product is that the gelatin source is porcine (pork) as it says on the label. I give them credit for at least telling us (probably for those who cannot eat pork products) as most manufacturers just say "gelatin" and leave it at that. Usually, unless otherwise stated "gelatin" means beef. For those who can't use pork products, they do make these in a veggie gelatin in the 1,000mg size. Check them out at: Health From The Sun 100% Vegetarian Black Currant Oil Softgels, 60-Count .

Started taking these based on other reviews -- helps with the skin, though I could swear I read something about the hair as well. I also take a few others, plus some vitamins, including a nice, strong multi optimized for males. How does one rate something like a supplement? The price was decent enough, I guess I'll check back in six months or so and find if I am enjoying any kind of benefit, though if I am it would be hard to determine which benefit stems from which product, unless it's a kind of cummulative effect. Hell, it couldn't hurt folks! Each of you would have to find what you need, what would work best for you -- this isn't a one-size-fits all proposition.

Works good so far

My hair and nails grow really fast and strong thanks to this supplement. My skin has also improved. I highly recommend it!

I take this daily - easy to swallow and no after taste.

Great for skin and hair. I am using it for years and love it.

great way to get your omega 3's