Seventy-eight Danish women (aged 16-39 years) with dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, one of the following for at least 3 menstrual cycles: 1) placebo (consisting of "average" Danish fat), 2) 2.5 g/day of fish oil, or 3) 2.5 g/day of fish oil plus 7.5 mcg/day of vitamin B12. Mter 3 months, the reduction in symptoms was greater with fish oil plus vitamin B12 (p = 0.01) and fish oil alone (p = 0.1) than with placebo. The reduction in symptoms persisted for at least 3 menstrual cycles after discontinuation of fish oil plus vitamin B12, whereas the effect of fish oil alone disappeared after 1-2 months.