Beta-carotene supplementation associated with intermittent retinol administration in the treatment of premenopausal mastodynia.

Twenty-five women, 23-41 year old, suffering from premestrual cyclical mastodynia linked or otherwise to benign breast disease (BBD), with moderate or severe pain at least seven days before each menstrual period, were treated with daily beta-carotene (BC) supplementation associated with intermittent administration of retinol (all-trans-retinol 300,000 IU per day). In this therapy retinol was given for 7 days immediately before each menstrual period. After 6 months' treatment, the results revealed marked reduction in breast pain, and sometime recovery, in 23-41 year old women with no toxic side effects. But no such advantages in 5 women with non-cyclical mastodynia treated as above were found. Above this age range, the advantages appear to be absent. All the women developed a healthy look because of a slight tanning of the skin due to beta-carotene supplementation. These data demonstrated a therapeutic synergism between BC and retinol.