Fish oil is a product obtained from certain species of fish that contains significant amounts of substances called omega-3 fatty acids. These acids have anti-inflammatory properties, and either alone or in combination with vitamin B-12, they have the potential to ease the effects of a painful condition called primary dysmenorrhea. This condition appears in some women at the start of the active portion of the menstrual cycle.
Fish Oil and Omega-3s
The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil are called docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. Another type of omega-3, called alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, does not occur in fish oil. Species commonly used for the production of fish oil come from cold ocean water, and they include mackerel, tuna, salmon, halibut, herring, mullet, sardines, bluefish, cod and anchovies. Fish oil manufacturers frequently add a little vitamin E to their products to stop them from spoiling. Certain brands may also contain other nutrient additives, such as iron, calcium, vitamins A and D, and several B vitamins.
Dysmenorrhea Basics
More than 50 percent of women have mild pain for one or two days during menstruation, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Primary dysmenorrhea is an abnormal elevation of this pain. When you menstruate, your uterus increases its output of substances called prostaglandins. These substances make the walls of your uterus contract, and when their levels rise, uterine contractions grow stronger. In women with primary dysmenorrhea, the uterine contractions associated with menstruation and increased prostaglandin production are strong enough to produce severe pain.
Pain-Relieving Effects
The omega-3s in fish oil can potentially alter the production of prostaglandins during menstruation and ease the symptoms of dysmenorrhea, NYU Langone Medical Center reports. According to a study published in the "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology," women with the disorder who took enough fish oil to supply 720 mg a day of DHA and 1,080 mg a day of EPA experienced significant reductions in menstruation-related pain after two months. A second study, reported in "Nutrition Research," produced similar results, and also found that doses of vitamin B-12 increased the ability of fish oil to reduce menstrual pain.
Considerations
The pain-relieving effects associated with fish oil and vitamin B-12 can lower use of pain-relieving medications in women with dysmenorrhea, the MedlinePlus notes. However, the amount of fish oil that produced positive results in a study published in the "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" is roughly twice the amount you can safely take without potentially increasing your risks for unwanted bleeding. In addition, the omega-3 content in any given fish oil product can vary considerably. To safeguard your health and determine appropriate dosages for your circumstances, talk to your doctor before you take fish oil for dysmenorrhea.
References
- MedlinePlus; Fish Oil; February 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; June 2009
- NYU Langone Medical Center; Dysmenorrhea; February 2011
- "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Supplementation with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Management of Dysmenorrhea in Adolescents; Zeev Harel, et al.; April 1996
- "Nutrition Research"; Menstrual Discomfort in Danish Women Reduced by Dietary Supplements of Omega-3 PUFA and B-12 (Fish Oil or Seal Oil Capsules); Bente Deutch, MPH, PhD, et al.; May 2000
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Dysmenorrhea; December 2006
