Vitamin E and Omega-3, 6 and 9 Combinations Versus Vitamin E in the Treatment of Mastodynia

Abstract

Background;: Breast pain or mastodynia is moderate to severe pain, which affects around 22 - 41% of women. If no anomaly is found and other causes, like nutritional changes, are excluded, many drugs, including herbal supplements, are recommended for the treatment of mastodynia. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E and omega-3, 6 and 9 free fatty acids combinations versus Vitamin E in women with mastodynia. Patients and Methods: A double blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in Shohada Ashayer Hospital in Khorramabad Lorestan province, in the vest of Iran. A total of 88 women with symptoms of mastodynia, aged between 20 - 55 years old, were divided to two groups. The patients were randomly assigned to receive vitamin E (400 U/day) and vitamin E (400 U/day) plus omega-3, 6 and 9 (1200 mg/day) orally, for 3 months. Results: Vitamin E plus omega free fatty acids are more effective than the use of vitamin E alone in decreasing mastodynia. Significant difference was seen between the Cardiff Breast Score (CBS) of the vitamin E group compared to vitamin E - omega group (P < 0.05) at the end of the first, second and third months after treatment. Conclusions: Our results showed that vitamin E plus omega free fatty acids decrease the severity of mastodynia better than vitamin E alone.