High-Dose Vitamin E May Relieve Dysmenorrhea

The use of 800 IU, but not 400 IU, appears therapeutic

By Caroline Helwick

Washington, DC—High-dose vitamin E was effective in treating primary dysmenorrhea in young women participating in a controlled study presented at the 2011 meeting of the American Col - lege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The use of vitamin E 800 IU/day significantly decreased the pain of primary dysmenorrhea compared with the control group, but 400 IU did not, according to researchers from the West Indies. “This indicates that a higher dose of vitamin E was needed to obtain significant reduction in menstrual cramps for the population studied,” said Gregory Lewis, MD, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

Table 1

Pain Scores among Women with Dysmenorrhea Managed with Vitamin E

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Vitamin E is a known inhibitor of protein kinase C, which prevents the release of arachidonic acid from cellmembrane phospholipids and inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis. Based on its mode of action, therefore, vitamin E may be an effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhea, the investigators hypothesized.

This prospective, randomized, controlled trial included 115 women aged 18 to 25 years who reported primary dysmenorrhea and regular menstrual cycles. After having a pelvic ultrasound to rule out pathology, the women were randomly assigned to receive vitamin E 400 IU daily, vitamin E 800 IU daily, or no vitamin E (control group).

The women began taking the supplement at least 2 days before the start of their periods and continued through the first 3 days of bleeding, for a minimum of 5 days for 1 cycle. Ibuprofen could be taken as needed.

Data relating to pain and blood loss were collected for 2 period cycles. Severity of pain was established by use of a visual analog pain scale (0-10). Blood loss was assessed via a standardized pictorial blood loss assessment chart.

Vitamin E 800 IU was associated with significant reductions in pain scores compared with the control group, whereas 400 IU had no significant treatment effect. The efficacy of vitamin E 800 IU was significantly greater than was seen with 400 IU (Table). Although differences in blood loss were observed between the controls and those receiving vitamin E 400 IU (–6.48 mL) and 800 IU (–17.5 mL), the differences were not significant.