---
title: Does evening primrose oil help premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: Yes. Studies found evening primrose oil highly effective for depression, irritability, breast pain, and fluid retention. The strongest evidence comes from 3 d
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-role-of-essential-fatty-acids-and-prostaglandins-in-the-premenstrual-1983/
---

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- Does evening primrose oil help premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 1983

# Does evening primrose oil help premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Studies found evening primrose oil highly effective for depression, irritability, breast pain, and fluid retention. The strongest evidence comes from 3 double-blind controlled trials.

 Moderate study design

Women with premenstrual syndrome across multiple studies

## What they did

Five studies testing evening primrose oil (which contains gamma-linolenic acid): 3 double-blind placebo-controlled studies, 1 large open study in women who had failed other treatments, and 1 large open study in women with new cases.

## What they found

Evening primrose oil demonstrated highly effective treatment for depression, irritability, breast pain and tenderness, and fluid retention associated with premenstrual syndrome across all studies.

## What it means for you

Evening primrose oil may help premenstrual syndrome symptoms, particularly mood and physical symptoms. However, the evidence is mixed because only 3 of the 5 studies were double-blind, and 2 were open unblinded studies. Other nutrients like magnesium and vitamin B6 may enhance this effect.

3

Double-blind placebo-controlled studies

2

Open unblinded studies

## About the study

Original title The role of essential fatty acids and prostaglandins in the premenstrual syndrome Authors Horrobin DF Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1983 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Evening primrose oil Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6350579/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6350579/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Magnesium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-magnesium/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Evening primrose oil](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-evening-primrose/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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