Early research from the 1950s suggested that vitamin E may be helpful for women with primary dysmenorrhea. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in The Lancet (April 23, 1955; Pages 844–847) evaluated 50 women with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants received 50 mg of vitamin E three times daily, beginning 10 days before the onset of menstruation and continuing through the first four days of the menstrual cycle. The protocol was repeated for a second cycle. Women receiving vitamin E reported greater relief of menstrual pain compared with those receiving placebo.
More recent evidence supports these earlier findings. A study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (November 2001; Volume 108, Pages 1181–1183) examined 100 young women with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 100 IU of vitamin E or a placebo for five days, beginning two days before menstruation. While both groups experienced some reduction in pain, the group receiving vitamin E reported a greater improvement in symptoms than the placebo group.
