Fatty acid capsule cuts PMT pains

A CAPSULE containing a mixture of fatty acids can help to ease the problem of pre-menstrual tension, research has shown.The supplement significantly reduces the emotional and physical symptoms that blight the lives of millions of women and their partners, say scientists.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Jan 2011, 21:53 BST

Women taking the two gram capsules over six months reported their symptoms becoming far milder than before. PMT, also known as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), affects between 80 per cent and 95 per cent of women of reproductive age, a third of whom suffer disruption to their routine activities.

Up to 15 per cent of cases are severe enough to be classified as a disabling condition called pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This has been known to lead to serious mental problems requiring psychiatric help, according to the Brazilian researchers writing in the journal Reproductive Health.

The capsules contain a mix of oils including gamma linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid, combined with vitamin E.

They were tested on a group of 120 women aged 16 to 49 with diagnosed PMS or PMDD.