A seed oil supplying one uncommon fat the body normally builds itself. It reliably raises that fat in blood and cell membranes, but the human record is narrower: nerve-symptom relief in diabetes, less joint tenderness at very high doses, modest blood-fat lowering in people starting abnormal. Eczema and breast pain do not hold up. Main hazards: bleeding, late pregnancy. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (red-cell or plasma panel) | No established target; track change from own baseline, expecting a clear rise by 12 weeks | Confirms absorption and conversion |
| Arachidonic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid ratio | 3:1 or lower | Detects a shift toward pro-inflammatory signalling |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | Below 0.5 mg/L | Tracks the inflammatory outcome targeted |
| Fasting triglycerides | Below 80 mg/dL | The one lipid measure that moved in pooling |
| High-density lipoprotein cholesterol | Above 55 mg/dL in women, 45 mg/dL in men | Second lipid measure that moved, only in people starting abnormal |
| International normalised ratio (clotting-time ratio) | Indication-specific target, typically 2.0-3.0 | Catches added bleeding risk early |
| Platelet count | 150-400 x 10⁹/L | Bleeding reserve before stacking antiplatelet agents |
| Haemoglobin A1c | 4.8-5.4% | Neuropathy benefit larger in well-controlled diabetes |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; fatty-acid panel and inflammation marker at 12 weeks; lipids and inflammation at 6 and 12 months; on warfarin, clotting-time ratio 1-2 weeks after starting or stopping and after any dose change.