EPO has been recommended as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments affecting women; however, research has produced inconsistent and unconvincing results.
It has been hypothesized that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may be related to changes in fatty acid metabolism leading to reduced levels of prostaglandin E1, and in theory, EPO could provide GLA as a precursor for prostaglandin E1 synthesis.[1] Despite a proposed mechanism of action, EPO does not seem to improve symptoms of PMS, including mood disturbances and breast pain.[2][3][4] In menopause, EPO has not been found to have an effect on hot flashes or night sweats, and there is insufficient research to draw conclusions about whether EPO might improve other symptoms of menopause, such as low mood or poor sleep.[5]
References
- ^Horrobin DF, Manku MSPremenstrual syndrome and premenstrual breast pain (cyclical mastalgia): disorders of essential fatty acid (EFA) metabolism.Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.(1989-Sep)
- ^Dante G, Facchinetti FHerbal treatments for alleviating premenstrual symptoms: a systematic review.J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.(2011-Mar)
- ^Whelan AM, Jurgens TM, Naylor HHerbs, vitamins and minerals in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review.Can J Clin Pharmacol.(2009)
- ^Ahmad Adni LL, Norhayati MN, Mohd Rosli RR, Muhammad JA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Evening Primrose Oil for Mastalgia Treatment.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2021-Jun-10)
- ^Christelle K, Zulkfili M, Noor N, Draman NThe Effects of Evening-Primrose Oil on Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsCurr Womens Health Rev.(2020)