Today we’re continuing with our discussion on low nutrient levels and their association with period pain. Menstruation is often (though not always) one of the most painful parts of the menstrual cycle, for people with endometriosis - and a connection we see between both dysmenorrhea (which is the medical term for period pain) and endometriosis, is low omega 3 fatty acids.

Omega 3 fatty acids are the precursors to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins; which basically means omega 3 makes our anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. In contrast, omega 6 makes our inflammatory prostaglandins, namely prostaglandin E2. And for those of who don’t know, prostaglandins, in the simplest of terms, are immune chemicals.

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Show notes

Omega 3 and inflammation

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/09513590.2011.588753

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7068519/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6790261/

Dietary modulation of prostaglandin E2

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0334211100

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/355figureth?id=figure1

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2017/5987082

https://www.clinsurggroup.us/articles/JGRO-10-226.pdf

Omega 3 fatty acids and endometriosis pain reduction/treatment

https://www.clinsurggroup.us/articles/JGRO-10-226.pdf

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/19/14601

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0227695

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcp.26401

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/3/654

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8677647/

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(07)00202-6/fulltext

Endometriosis risk and omega 3 fatty acids

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20332166/

https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(13)00173-5/abstract

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9983692/

https://theiopn.com/reel-in-the-relief-can-omega-3s-reduce-menstrual-pain/

Omega 3 fatty acids and dysmenorrhea

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1747-0080.12835

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22261128/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8701537/

https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(13)00173-5/abstract

Omega 3 fat sources

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2815

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This episode is sponsored by BeYou Cramp Relief Patches. Soothe period cramps the natural way with these 100% natural and discreet menthol and eucalyptus oil stick on patches. Click here to find out more and to shop: https://beyouonline.co.uk/pages/how-it-works

Produced by Chris Robson