Women suffering from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are thought to be low in essential fatty acids,’ and also therefore to be low in the important prostaglandin made from EFAs, prostaglandin El. They also have an imbalance of the various prostaglandins.
A shortage of EFAs can lead to an apparent excess of the female hormone prolactin. Prolactin produces changes in mood and fluid metabolism, similar to those found in PMS. Body tissues may be abnormally sensitive to normal levels of prolactin when they are low in EFAs and PGE1.
It is thought that GLA and PGE1, derived from evening primrose oil, can damp down these effects of prolactin and also of the hormones from the ovaries. The net effect of this is that GLA and PGE1 help smooth out the actions of the rapidly-changing hormone levels in the second half of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
This is what two doctors running a PMS clinic in Massachusetts, USA, Ann Nazzaro and Donald Lombard, have said:
Our clinical research experience has shown that when there is an increase in Prostaglandin El – that is, when we are provided the means to produce Prostaglandin El – there is a significant reduction in premenstrual syndrome problems. With a nutritional approach alone, we have found a 70% success rate . . .

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WOMEN’S HEALTH