title: Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on intensity of primary dysmenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids relieved symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women aged 18-22 years with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolled in a double-blind crossover study. Women assigned to group 1 (n=47) received 1 omega-3 capsule daily for 3 months, followed by placebo for 3 months. Women in group 2 (n=48) received placebo for 3 months, followed by omega-3 for 3 months. A washout period was performed in both groups. Participants used 400mg of ibuprofen as a rescue dose if severe menstrual pains were experienced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A marked reduction in pain intensity was observed after 3 months of treatment with omega-3 fatty acids (P<0.05). Women who received omega-3 fatty acids required fewer rescue doses than women who received placebo (P<0.05). The mean numbers of ibuprofen tablets used after 3 months with omega-3 fatty acids were 4.3±2.1 (group 1) and 3.2±2.5 (group 2); the mean numbers of tablets used after 3 months of placebo were 5.3±2.2 (group 1) and 6.0±2.6 (group 2) (P=0.001 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids reduced the symptom intensity of primary dysmenorrhea. Supplementation efficacy was sufficient to decrease the ibuprofen rescue dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amir-al-Momenin Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asgharzadeh
authors.forename: Raheb
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D007052:Ibuprofen