Compare the effect of flaxseed, evening primrose oil and Vitamin E on duration of periodic breast pain

Key Findings

Breast pain is common until menopause. It is related to intensification of symptoms before the menstrual period which is started in the luteal phase of the period and is accompanied by congestion, pain, burning, heaviness, and two-sided sensitivity of the breast.
Eicosanoids, derived from omega-3 found in flaxseed, have anti-inflammatory properties and phytoestrogen lignan which is an antioxidant, inhibits the activity of the aromatase enzyme, resulting in decreased production of estrogen. This study found that flaxseed, evening primrose oil, and Vitamin E reduced breast pain duration The greatest reduction was observed in the flaxseed group. The authors attributed the effect of flaxseed to its source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans, and antioxidant.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast periodic pain is the most common disorder of the breast which leads to consultation with knowledgeable people like a midwife. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic effect of flaxseed, evening primrose oil, and Vitamin E on the duration of the period of breast pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a quasi-randomized clinical trial conducted in 2015 on ninety patients complaining of breast periodic pain referring to Gynecologic Clinics of Ghaem Hospital or residents living in dormitories of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Randomization was conducted based on the study environment. The first group received 30 g of powdered flaxseed, the second group received two 1000 mg capsules of evening primrose, and the third group received 1 capsule of 400 IU Vitamin E, daily and for two menstrual cycles. Cyclical breast pain was measured at the beginning and end of both intervention periods by daily subscription form of pain duration. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 16 software and Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Chi-square, Friedman, Fisher’s, and one-sided ANOVA tests. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean duration of breast pain in flaxseed group within 2 months of intervention decreased significantly (confidence interval [CI] =95%, P = 0.006), but despite reducing the duration of pain in evening primrose oil group (CI = 95%, P = 0.058) and Vitamin E (CI = 95%, P = 0.306), this reduction was not significant. In overall, the average duration of breast pain in all three flaxseed, evening primrose oil, and Vitamin E groups was not significantly different before the intervention (CI = 95%, P = 0.286), 1 month after the intervention (CI = 95%, P = 0.195), and 2 months after the intervention (CI = 95%, P = 0.667).CONCLUSION: The use of flaxseed, evening primrose oil, or Vitamin E may reduce breast pain, and this is a significant reduction in flaxseed.