✪ Key Takeaway: Borage oil may reduce inflammation but lacks direct evidence for improving hypothyroidism and could worsen thyroid function.
Introduction
You walk into a health store and see bottles of borage oil promising to support thyroid health.
You might be asking this question because your thyroid medication alone does not seem enough, or perhaps you want a natural approach to manage your hypothyroidism symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog.
Hi, I am Abdur, your nutrition coach, and today I am going to explain whether borage oil actually helps with hypothyroidism or if it is just another overhyped supplement that drains your wallet without delivering real results.
What Exactly Is Borage Oil and Why Do People Use It?
Borage oil comes from the seeds of the Borago officinalis plant, which produces beautiful blue star-shaped flowers.
This oil contains about 20 to 26 percent gamma-linolenic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid that your body converts into compounds affecting inflammation.
People use borage oil primarily for skin conditions like eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, and various inflammatory problems.
The supplement industry markets it as a natural anti-inflammatory that supposedly supports hormone balance and thyroid function.
However, most research on borage oil focuses on skin health and joint pain, not thyroid disorders specifically.
The connection to thyroid health comes from the theory that reducing systemic inflammation might help thyroid hormone production and conversion.
✪ Fact: Borage oil contains one of the highest concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid among plant-based oils, even more than evening primrose oil.
Does Borage Oil Actually Improve Thyroid Function?
No direct scientific evidence shows that borage oil improves thyroid hormone levels or treats hypothyroidism effectively.
Research studies have not tested borage oil specifically on people with diagnosed hypothyroidism or Hashimoto thyroiditis.
The theoretical benefit comes from its anti-inflammatory properties, since chronic inflammation can interfere with thyroid hormone conversion from T4 to the active T3 form.
Your thyroid produces mostly T4, which then converts to T3 in your liver, kidneys, and other tissues through enzymes called deiodinases.
Inflammation can reduce this conversion process, leaving you with symptoms even when your TSH levels look normal on paper.
While borage oil might reduce some inflammatory markers in your body, this does not automatically translate to better thyroid function or symptom relief.
Many other factors affect thyroid health more directly, including selenium, zinc, iodine, vitamin D, and proper medication dosing.
✪ Note: Never replace your thyroid medication with supplements like borage oil, as this can lead to serious health complications and worsening symptoms.
Could Borage Oil Make Your Thyroid Condition Worse?
Borage oil contains high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation when consumed in excess relative to omega-3 fatty acids.
Most people already consume too much omega-6 from vegetable oils, processed foods, and restaurant meals.
Adding more omega-6 through borage oil supplements might tip your fatty acid balance further toward a pro-inflammatory state.
This matters for hypothyroidism because inflammation directly interferes with thyroid hormone production and the conversion of T4 to T3.
Some people with autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto thyroiditis might experience increased antibody levels or symptom flare-ups from excessive omega-6 intake.
Borage oil also contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are compounds that can damage your liver with long-term use.
Since your liver plays a crucial role in converting thyroid hormones, any liver stress could indirectly worsen your hypothyroidism symptoms.
✪ Pro Tip: Focus on increasing omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts before adding any omega-6 supplements to your routine.
What Should You Focus On Instead for Better Thyroid Health?
Your thyroid needs specific nutrients to function properly, and borage oil does not provide any of them.
Selenium helps convert T4 to T3 and protects your thyroid gland from oxidative damage, with Brazil nuts being an excellent food source.
Zinc supports thyroid hormone production and immune function, found abundantly in oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and lentils.
Iodine forms the backbone of thyroid hormones, though you should never supplement it without testing your levels first, especially if you have Hashimoto thyroiditis.
Vitamin D deficiency correlates strongly with autoimmune thyroid disease, and most people with hypothyroidism benefit from optimizing their vitamin D levels through sunlight exposure or supplementation.
Iron deficiency impairs thyroid hormone synthesis and can worsen hypothyroidism symptoms like fatigue and cold intolerance.
Managing stress through adequate sleep, regular movement, and stress-reduction techniques matters more than any supplement because chronic stress elevates cortisol, which suppresses thyroid function.
✪ Fact: Just two Brazil nuts daily provide enough selenium to support optimal thyroid hormone conversion without any supplement expense.
When Might Borage Oil Actually Be Worth Considering?
Borage oil might help if you have severe skin conditions like eczema or atopic dermatitis that do not respond to other treatments.
Some research shows that gamma-linolenic acid supplementation improves skin barrier function and reduces itching in people with inflammatory skin disorders.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis alongside hypothyroidism, borage oil might provide modest relief from joint pain and stiffness.
However, you should never take borage oil if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have liver disease, or take blood-thinning medications.
The supplement can interact with medications and increase bleeding risk during surgery.
If you decide to try borage oil for conditions other than hypothyroidism, choose products certified free from pyrrolizidine alkaloids and start with the lowest effective dose.
Always inform your doctor before adding any supplement to your routine, especially when managing a chronic condition like hypothyroidism that requires careful monitoring.
✪ Note: Quality matters significantly with borage oil supplements, as contamination with toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids remains a serious concern with many products.
The Bottom Line
Borage oil lacks scientific evidence for treating hypothyroidism and may actually worsen inflammation through excessive omega-6 intake.
Your thyroid needs targeted nutrition and proper medication, not trendy supplements that promise everything but deliver nothing, so focus your energy and money on proven strategies like optimizing selenium, zinc, vitamin D, and managing stress effectively.
Share your thoughts in the comments below if you have tried borage oil or have questions about natural approaches to supporting your thyroid health.
References
At NutritionCrown, we use quality and credible sources to ensure our content is accurate and trustworthy. Below are the sources referenced in writing this article:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Gamma Linolenic Acid: An Antiinflammatory Omega-6 Fatty Acid
- WebMD: What to Know About Borage
- Natural Endocrine Solutions: Fatty Acids and the Role They Play in Thyroid Health
- MedicineNet: Borage Benefits, Uses, and Precautions
