Evening primrose oil and fish oil for severe chronic mastalgia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil and fish oil on breast pain in premenopausal women with severe chronic mastalgia, in a randomized double-blind factorial clinical trial.


METHODS
One hundred twenty women were placed randomly into four groups: (1) fish oil and control oil, (2) evening primrose oil and control oil, (3) fish and evening primrose oils, or (4) both control oils during 6 months. Corn oil and corn oil with wheat germ oil were used as control oils. The change in the percentage of days with breast pain after 6 months of treatment was analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.


RESULTS
The decrease in days with pain was 12.3 % for evening primrose oil and 13.8% for its control oil (P =.73); the decrease in days with pain was 15.5% for fish oil and 10.6% for its control oil (P =.28).


CONCLUSIONS
All groups showed a decrease in pain. Neither evening primrose oil nor fish oil offered clear benefit over control oils in the treatment of mastalgia.
Blommers
Jacqueline
J
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
de Lange-De Klerk
Elisabeth S m
ES
Kuik
Dirk J
DJ
Bezemer
Pieter D
PD
Meijer
Sybren
S
D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005395:Fish Oils; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; C050055:wheat germ oil; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D003314:Corn Oil