A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (April 1996; 174(4):1335–1338) examined the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls. Omega-3 fatty acids may have an anti-inflammatory effect. The study included 42 participants with dysmenorrhea who were divided into two groups in a crossover design. One group received supplementation for two months consisting of 1,080 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 720 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and 1.5 mg of vitamin E per day, followed by two months of placebo, and then another two months of supplementation. The second group received placebo for the first two months, supplementation for the second two months, and placebo again for the final two months. Using the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale, researchers found that both groups experienced a reduction in dysmenorrhea symptoms during the periods when omega-3 fatty acids were consumed, suggesting an association between omega-3 supplementation and reduced menstrual pain.