Evidence supporting the use of: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
For the health condition: Dysmenorrhea

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish oil, has some scientific support for its use in managing dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). The rationale lies in EPA's anti-inflammatory properties. Dysmenorrhea is associated with increased production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins (particularly prostaglandin F2α) in the endometrium, which cause uterine contractions and pain. EPA competes with arachidonic acid, the precursor to these pro-inflammatory prostaglandins, leading instead to the formation of less inflammatory prostaglandins (series-3 prostaglandins). Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have investigated omega-3 fatty acids (including EPA and DHA) for dysmenorrhea. For example, a 2012 double-blind RCT published in "The Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine" found that women supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids (180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA) experienced reduced pain intensity compared to placebo. A 2020 systematic review in "Complementary Therapies in Medicine" concluded that omega-3 supplementation is associated with a significant reduction in menstrual pain, though most studies used EPA/DHA combinations rather than EPA alone. While the evidence is not unequivocal and more large-scale studies are needed, current research suggests EPA-containing supplements may be beneficial for dysmenorrhea due to their ability to modulate inflammatory mediators. There is little evidence for traditional use of EPA for this purpose; its use is primarily based on modern biochemical understanding and clinical studies.

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