NOW Foods Black Currant Oil 500 mg (70 mg GLA) – 100 Softgels
Targeted Essential Fatty Acid Support for Radiant Skin, Joint Mobility, and Daily Comfort
If you struggle with persistent dry skin, morning joint stiffness, or monthly hormonal fluctuations, your body may be running low on a vital, specialized fat called Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA). While standard diets supply plenty of common vegetable oils, our bodies often struggle to convert those fats into the anti-inflammatory building blocks needed for smooth, hydrated tissues and relaxed joints.
NOW® Black Currant Oil 500 mg provides 70 mg of standardized, pre-formed GLA (14%) alongside 52 mg of Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) in every single softgel. Cold expeller-pressed from European black currant seeds (Ribes nigrum) without chemical solvents, this gentle botanical oil delivers direct cellular nourishment that bypasses metabolic sluggishness.
Quick Product Highlights:
Concentrated Potency: 500 mg pure Black Currant Seed Oil delivering 70 mg bioavailable GLA (14%) and 52 mg plant omega-3 ALA per softgel.
Clean Extraction: 100% Expeller-pressed and certified hexane-free—no toxic petroleum chemicals used during manufacturing.
Dual Omega Synergy: Unlike evening primrose or borage oil, black currant uniquely provides both omega-6 GLA and omega-3 ALA in natural harmony.
Verified Purity: Rigorously screened for heavy metals, microbial adulterants, and rancidity in ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories.
The Science Made Simple: How GLA Calms Inflammation and Renews Cells
Many people assume all omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation, but GLA is a remarkable exception. To understand why it works so well, it helps to look at how your cells build anti-inflammatory compounds:
In ordinary digestion, your body takes common dietary fats (like linoleic acid found in seeds) and uses an internal enzyme called Delta-6-Desaturase (D6D) to convert them into GLA. Unfortunately, this enzyme is notoriously slow. Aging, everyday stress, elevated blood sugar, alcohol, and poor nutrition severely hinder your D6D enzyme, leaving your cells starved for active, soothing fats.
Supplementing with NOW® Black Currant Oil completely sidesteps this roadblock. By supplying ready-made, pre-formed GLA, your body immediately converts it into Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). DGLA is the direct precursor to Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)—a powerful natural chemical messenger that:
Relaxes blood vessels and supports smooth, microvascular circulation to peripheral tissues.
Soothes joint linings by actively competing against arachidonic acid, preventing the formation of aggressive inflammatory messengers (like leukotrienes and PGE2).
Reinforces skin cell membranes, locking in vital moisture so skin remains plump, flexible, and comfortable.
Furthermore, black currant seed oil carries native Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA). This plant omega-3 fatty acid works alongside GLA to maintain healthy lipid balances and provide broad antioxidant defense throughout your circulatory system.
Evidence-Based Benefits: What Published Research Shows
Black currant seed oil is not just a traditional botanical remedy; its biological properties have been evaluated across numerous clinical trials and medical reviews:
1. Joint Mobility and Morning Flexibility
When joint tissues experience localized stress, cytokine levels spike, leading to morning stiffness, swelling, and tender movement. In a clinical trial published in the British Journal of Rheumatology (Watson et al., 1993), patients taking black currant seed oil demonstrated significant reductions in morning stiffness and a marked decrease in inflammatory monocyte activity.
Additionally, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism (Leventhal et al., 1994) documented that botanical GLA supplementation significantly decreased joint tenderness scores and overall physical discomfort compared to placebo. A comprehensive Cochrane Systematic Review (Cameron et al., 2011) confirmed moderate evidence that GLA oils provide meaningful support for daily joint comfort.
2. Skin Hydration and Barrier Repair
Healthy skin depends on a strong lipid barrier to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL)—the escape of water into dry air. When your skin lacks GLA, skin cells become leaky and fragile, resulting in dry, itchy, flaky patches and conditions like eczema.
A clinical trial published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy (Linnamaa et al., 2010) evaluated oral black currant seed oil supplementation and observed significant improvements in skin barrier integrity, noting a marked reduction in the incidence of atopic skin issues. By feeding the lipid bilayer from within, GLA helps skin retain natural water, soothe redness, and restore supple texture.
3. Hormonal Harmony and Premenstrual Comfort
Hormonal shifts throughout the monthly cycle can trigger cyclical breast tenderness, fluid retention, irritability, and cramping. These symptoms are closely linked to an overproduction of inflammatory series-2 prostaglandins.
By encouraging the production of calming PGE1, GLA helps restore balance to fluctuating eicosanoids. Many women report smoother monthly cycles, less breast swelling, and improved mood stability when using black currant oil consistently over a period of 8 to 12 weeks.
The Botanical Oil Comparison: Black Currant vs. Evening Primrose vs. Borage
Shoppers frequently ask why they should choose black currant seed oil over evening primrose oil (EPO) or borage seed oil. While all three contain GLA, their fatty acid ratios and digestive tolerances differ dramatically:
Botanical Oil Source
Typical GLA Content
Omega-3 ALA Content
Key Practical Advantage
NOW® Black Currant Oil
14% – 17% (70 mg/cap)
10% – 14% (52 mg/cap)
Naturally balanced with both omega-6 GLA and omega-3 ALA; easy on digestion.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
8% – 10%
0% (Trace)
Popular for women's health, but requires swallowing twice as many softgels to match GLA potency.
Borage Seed Oil
20% – 24%
0% (Trace)
Highest raw GLA percentage, but completely lacks omega-3s and can occasionally cause mild stomach upset.
The Bottom Line: Black Currant Oil offers the single most balanced botanical fatty acid profile in nature. You get nearly double the GLA density of evening primrose oil without tipping your internal omega ratio out of balance, thanks to the natural presence of ALA omega-3.
NOW® Quality Standards: Advanced Lab Testing and Contaminant Control
Because delicate seed oils oxidize easily and can harbor agricultural residues if poorly handled, source verification and rigorous laboratory screening are essential. NOW Foods operates two of the most sophisticated in-house analytical testing laboratories in the nutritional supplement industry, accredited to the stringent ISO/IEC 17025 international standard.
Every batch of NOW® Black Currant Oil undergoes strict quality protocols before encapsulation:
Analytical Verification Protocols:
Heavy Metal Screening via ICP-MS: Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, NOW tests down to parts-per-billion (ppb) to confirm the complete absence of harmful levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, complying with rigorous USP and California Proposition 65 limits.
Solvent & Hexane Elimination: NOW Black Currant Oil is cold expeller-pressed. Using Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and Headspace GC, chemists verify that no toxic petroleum extraction solvents (such as hexane) are present.
Fatty Acid Fingerprinting via GC: Gas Chromatography verifies true botanical identity (Ribes nigrum) and confirms the exact potency of 70 mg GLA (14%) and 52 mg ALA per softgel, detecting and rejecting adulterated or degraded raw oils.
Oxidation & Freshness Assurance: Every lot is checked for Peroxide Value (PV) and p-Anisidine Value (p-AV) to verify the oil is fresh, stable, and protected from oxidative rancidity.
Microbiological Testing: In-house bio-testing verifies that the product is free from pathogen contamination, including Salmonella, E. coli, yeast, and mold.
Result: You receive a clean, pure, bioactive botanical oil that matches its label claims from the first softgel to the last.
Practical Guidance: Real-World Use, Dosing, and Safety Precautions
At VitaNet®, we bring over 31 years of family-owned supplement expertise to help our customers get real results from their nutritional regimens[cite: 1]. While product labels provide standard guidelines, practical implementation makes all the difference:
How to Maximize Absorption:
The suggested usage is 1 softgel, 1 to 3 times daily. Because essential fatty acids require dietary fat to stimulate bile and digestive enzymes, always take your softgel with a meal that contains healthy dietary fats (such as avocado, eggs, olive oil, or yogurt). Taking it on an empty stomach may lead to reduced absorption or mild burping.
How Long Before You Feel Results?
Fatty acids remodel cell membranes progressively over time. While minor skin soothing may be noticeable in 2 to 3 weeks, joint flexibility and cyclic hormonal support typically reach full benefit after 8 to 12 weeks of daily, consistent use.
Important Safety Considerations & Contraindications:
Blood Thinners & Surgery: GLA exerts a natural, mild anti-platelet effect that supports smooth circulation. If you take prescription blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin) or have scheduled surgery, consult your healthcare provider and discontinue use 14 days prior to your procedure.
Pregnancy & Nursing: For adults only. Consult your physician prior to taking any GLA supplement if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing.
Gelatin Capsule: The softgel shell is made of bovine gelatin and is not suitable for strict vegetarians or vegans.
The VitaNet® Promise: We stand behind our catalog with an unconditional 100% Money Back Guarantee[cite: 1]. If you are not completely satisfied, we will refund your purchase price and even pay the return shipping cost—whether the bottle is opened or unopened[cite: 1].
Complete Supplement Facts & Official Ingredients
Formula details cross-referenced directly with NOW® Foods product specifications (Item #1715, UPC: 733739017154):
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Softgel
Servings Per Container: 100
Description
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value
Calories
5
—
Total Fat
0.5 g
< 1%*
Black Currant Oil (Ribes nigrum) (Seed)
500 mg
†
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) (14%)
70 mg
†
Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)
52 mg
†
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established.
Other Ingredients: Softgel Capsule (bovine gelatin, glycerin, water).
Allergen Information: Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, or shellfish ingredients. Produced in a GMP-certified facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Additional Quality Features: Non-GMO, Hexane-Free, Expeller-Pressed, Kosher (Triangle K - Contains Gelatin). Natural color variation may occur.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Black Currant Oil good for?
Black Currant Oil is an exceptional source of Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA). It is clinically studied to support joint flexibility, reduce morning stiffness, lock in skin barrier hydration against dryness or eczema, and balance monthly premenstrual hormonal fluctuations.
How is Black Currant Oil different from Evening Primrose Oil?
Black Currant Oil contains significantly higher GLA concentrations (~14% to 17%) compared to Evening Primrose Oil (~8% to 10%), meaning you need fewer capsules to achieve clinical potency. In addition, black currant uniquely supplies plant-based omega-3 ALA (52 mg per softgel), providing a balanced fatty acid profile that evening primrose oil lacks.
Is NOW® Black Currant Oil free of hexane and chemical solvents?
Yes. NOW® Black Currant Oil is expeller-pressed using mechanical pressure without heat degradation or harsh petroleum chemicals. Every batch is verified 100% hexane-free and solvent-free via Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) in NOW's ISO 17025 accredited labs.
When should I take NOW® Black Currant Oil?
Take 1 softgel 1 to 3 times daily with food. For optimal absorption and digestive comfort, take it alongside a meal containing healthy dietary fats, such as breakfast or dinner.
Are there any medication interactions or precautions?
Because GLA exerts a natural, mild anti-platelet effect that promotes healthy blood flow, individuals taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs) should consult their doctor before starting supplementation. If you have an upcoming surgery, stop taking black currant oil 2 weeks prior. Always consult your physician if pregnant or nursing.
