Effect of Vitamin E and Evening Primrose Oil on Pain and Lump Size in Women with Fibrocystic Breast Disease: A Prospective Interventional Study

Introduction: Fibrocystic Breast Disease (FBD) is a common benign breast condition among women of reproductive age, frequently presenting with breast pain and palpable lumps. Although Vitamin E and Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) are widely used as non hormonal treatments for symptomatic relief, evidence regarding their effectiveness in reducing lump size remains limited and inconsistent. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Vitamin E and EPO on pain reduction and lump size among patients presenting with breast pain and palpable breast lumps. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted among patients attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) of General Surgery at G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital (GKNMH), a tertiary care multispecialty hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, South India, between May 2023 and October 2024. A total of 92 women presenting with breast pain and palpable breast lumps attending the OPD were recruited through purposive sampling. Women with pain were assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and those with palpable lumps underwent radiological examination. Radiological examination was performed based on age. Following the clinical examination, women participants were equally distributed into the Vitamin E oil group (n=46) and the EPO group (n=46) using a random number allocation method. Women who got even numbers received a Vitamin E capsule of 600 mg, and those with odd numbers received EPO of 1000 mg, and the outcomes were assessed after 30 days. Changes in the pain level and lump size at the end of the treatment were presented as frequency and proportion. Paired t-test and Independent t-test were used to compare within-group and between group difference in pain score and lump size. Results: Among the 92 patients who were recruited, 44 (47.8%) were in the age group of 41-50 years. Almost two-thirds 69 (75.0 %) of them were menstruating, of whom the majority 61 (88.4%) reported having regular menstrual cycles. Pain was the predominant presenting symptom in 79 (85.9%), and most of them had no co-morbidities 70 (76.1%). During the follow-up, among women who received Vitamin E oil, 32 (80.0%) reported pain regression, and 7 (77.7%) reported lump regression, and among women who received EPO, 34 (87.2%) reported pain regression, and 10 (100.0%) reported lump regression. There was no statistically significant difference observed between the two groups. Conclusion: Both Vitamin E and EPO were effective in reducing pain and lump size; However no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups, indicating comparable effectiveness of the interventions, making it a suitable alternative treatment option for FBD.