Parade Magazine ... Sep 3, 2000 Half of all women of childbearing age have painful cramps when they menstruate. Many of them obtain relief from aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen or ibuprofen; others resort to birth-control pills. While effective, painkillers can have side effects--such as stomach upset. Here's an alternative:  A recent issue of the journal "Nutrition Research" reports that taking five capsules daily of fish oil, containing omega-3 fatty acids--especially when combined with vitamin B12--relieves menstrual cramps as well as other symptoms such as headache, nausea and fatigue. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which presumably is how they work to alleviate camps. Vitamin B12 lowers the level of homocysteine, an amino acid that may cause inflammation (and also, according to some research, may cause premature heart disease).

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