In the 17th century, it was introduced to Europe and became a popular folk remedy, earning the name king's cure-all.

In 1919, Heiduschka and Lüft extracted the oil from evening primrose seeds and described an unusual linolenic acid, which they name γ-.

GLA is also found in varying amounts in edible hemp seeds, oats, barley,[3] and spirulina.

This reaction is catalyzed by Δ6-desaturase (D6D), an enzyme that allows the creation of a double bond on the sixth carbon counting from the carboxyl terminus.

LA is consumed sufficiently in most diets, from such abundant sources as cooking oils and meats.

In 2002, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency withdrew marketing authorisations for evening primrose oil as an eczema remedy.