Essential Fatty Acids for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Essential Fatty Acids for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome


1st February, 2011
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome is the physical, physiological and behavioural symptoms that can occur in the two weeks leading up to a women’s monthly period. Typical symptoms include fluid retention, breast tenderness, mood swings and irritability. Pre-Menstrual syndrome affects nearly all women of child bearing age; however women between their late 20’s and early 40’s are most likely to experience symptoms.



New research has again highlighted the positive effect of essential fatty acids and a reduction in the symptoms of pre-menstrual tension. This will come as good news to the 35% of women who have symptoms which are severe enough to interfere with there daily routine.


A double blind randomised controlled trial was conducted with 120 female volunteers suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome. The women were divided into three groups assigned to receive either one gram or 2 grams of essential fatty acids including gamma linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid other polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E or placebo and their symptoms were recorded over a 6 month period. The group who received one gram of essential fatty acids had a significant reduction in symptoms and those who received two grams of essential fatty acids had an even greater reduction in symptoms.

There is no cure for pre-menstrual syndrome, so treatments like this may be of great benefit to a large proportion of the female population.