Evening primrose oil and fish oil for severe chronic mastalgia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Abstract

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.

STUDY DESIGN:

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).

CONCLUSION:

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.

• Authors: Jacqueline Blommers, Elisabeth S m de Lange-De Klerk, Dirk J Kuik, Pieter D Bezemer, Sybren Meijer
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 187 Issue 5 Pg. 1389-94 (Nov 2002) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12439536 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids, Essential
• Fish Oils
• Linoleic Acids
• Plant Oils
• wheat germ oil
• evening primrose oil
• gamma-Linolenic Acid
• Corn Oil

Topics

• Adult
• Breast
• Chronic Disease
• Corn Oil (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Fatty Acids, Essential (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fish Oils (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Linoleic Acids
• Oenothera biennis
• Pain (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Pain Measurement
• Palliative Care (standards)
• Plant Oils (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• gamma-Linolenic Acid