title: Effects of Vitex agnus and Flaxseed on cyclic mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence on the effect of Vitex agnus and Flaxseed on cyclical mastalgia is not enough. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of V. agnus and Flaxseed on cyclical mastalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 159 women referred to health centers of Tabriz, Iran. Subjects were allocated into three groups (n=53 per group) using block randomization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group I received 25g daily Flaxseed powder and placebo of V. agnus; group II received daily 3.2-4.8mg V. agnus tablet and placebo of Flaxseed and control group received both placebo. Nominal day breast pain was applied at baseline, first, and second month after the intervention. Data was analyzed using general linear model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical significant difference between the three groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and baseline values. The breast pain improved significantly in both intervention groups during the first and second month after intervention. Mean NDBP score was significantly lower than that in the control group at the first month after the intervention in the Flaxseed [adjusted mean difference: -3.1 (95% CI: -4.2 to -2.0)] and V. agnus groups [-3.3 (-4.3 to -2.2)] and the second month after the intervention in Flaxseed [-7.0 (-8.1 to -5.9)] and V. agnus groups [-6.4 (-7.5 to -5.3)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flaxseed and V. agnus are effective in short-term period in decreasing cyclical mastalgia. However, further studies are needed to examine the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the effects after stopping the treatment in order to decide whether these alternative treatments are suitable to treat mastalgia or not.
authors: Midwifery Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mojgan
authors: M
authors: Mirghafourvand
authors: Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Midwifery Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Sakineh
authors: S
authors: Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi
authors: Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: parivash.ahmadpor@yahoo.com.
authors: Parivash
authors: P
authors: Ahmadpour
authors: Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Yousef
authors: Y
authors: Javadzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D059373:Mastodynia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020950:Vitex / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Flaxseed; Mastalgia; Vitex agnus