Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background: Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS), refers to a cyclic appearance of somatic and psychiatric symptoms in some women. Finding an effective and safe solution for the treatment of PMS had been always under consideration.The purpose of the present study is to evaluate of the effect of Omega-3 fatty acids on the treatment of PMS.

Methods: A randomized double blind controlled trial was performed on 135 eligible women, and finally 120 women finished the study. The women were randomly assigned into two groups. In the case group (Omega-3 group= group A , n=68), Omega-3 in a dose of 2 gram (2 one gram pearls), and in the control group (Placebo group =group B, n=67), 2 placebo pearls which were completely similar to the Omega-3 pearls, were prescribed. Then, the severity and the duration of each of the symptoms were compared in  both groups, 1.5 and 3 months after beginning of the treatment. Then statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V. 11. Also, t and Chi² tests were used for analysis. p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups according to age, BMI, level of education, and the severity and duration of primary symptoms. Forty five days after the beginning of Omega-3, the mean severity of depression (1.85±0.73 vs. 3.72±0.65, p=0.03), anxiety (1.53± 1.04 vs. 4.07±0.91, p=0.02), lack of concentration (2. 49± 1.26 vs. 5.73±1.34, p= 0.03), and bloating (0.95± 0.15 vs. 2.31± 0.19, p=0.02) in the case group were significantly lower than the control group. Also the duration of depression (4.25±1.02 vs. 7.21±1.32 days, p=0.04) and bloating (5.53±2.27 vs. 8.33±1.04 days, p=0.031) in the case group were less than the control group. Ninety days after the beginning of the treatment, the mean severity of depression (0.95±0.75 vs. 3.43±0.65, p=0.007), anxiety (0.79± 1.04 vs. 3.89±0.91, p=0.004), lack of concentration (1.48±1.26 vs. 5.63±1.34, p=0.009), bloating (0.74±0.15 vs. 2.14±0.19, p= 0.004), nervousness (2.15±0.93 vs. 6.09±0.86, p=0.01), and the duration of depression (2.12±0.25 vs. 7.46±0.02, p=0.01), nervousness (2.04±0.39 vs. 6.33± 1.45, p=0.02), anxiety (4.45±1.02 vs. 8.23±1.94, p=0.03), lack of concentration (2.16±0.26 vs. 5.55±1.02, p=0.02), bloating (3.32± 1.01 vs. 8.38± 2.32, p=0.004), headache (2.12±0.94 vs. 4.28±1.58, p=0.04), breast tenderness (4.35±1.31 vs. 7.85±2.08, p=0.02) were lower in the case group.

Conclusion: It seems that Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the psychiatric symptoms of PMS including depression, nervousness, anxiety, and lack of concentration and also may reduce the somatic symptoms of PMS including bloating, headache and breast tenderness, which these effects are increased by longer duration of treatment.