The condition, also known as dysmenorrhoea, usually affects teenage girls, and can significantly disrupt their education.
The research is published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
UK experts said the "breakthrough" could help thousands of young girls.
Period pain affects around 40% of adult menstruating women, and over 10% report it severely limits what they can do for up to three days during each cycle.
Just under 280 girls aged 15 to 17 who had reported suffering from period pain took part in the study.
Half were given 200 "international units" (IU) twice a day (a total equivalent to about 270mg), while the rest took dummy pills (placebos), over four consecutive menstrual periods.
They were asked to rate the pain they experienced during each period, and how many painkillers they took.
The amount of blood lost was also monitored.
At the end of the study, researchers found girls who took vitamin E reported the greatest decrease in the intensity of pain which they felt, which was reflected in a significant reduction in the number of painkillers they took.
Those who took the vitamin also experienced less blood loss than the placebo group.
Courtesy of BBC News 4/11/2005
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