Randomised trial, 2000
Does magnesium and vitamin B6 together help with anxiety-related premenstrual symptoms?
A combination of 200 mg magnesium plus 50 mg vitamin B6 daily showed a small benefit for anxiety-related symptoms like nervousness and mood swings. Individual supplements alone did not work.
What they did
44 women with an average age of 32 took all four treatments one at a time for one menstrual cycle each: magnesium alone (200 mg), vitamin B6 alone (50 mg), both together, and placebo. They kept daily records of 30 symptoms.
What they found
Neither magnesium nor vitamin B6 alone made a significant difference. The combination of 200 mg magnesium plus 50 mg vitamin B6 did reduce anxiety-related symptoms (nervous tension, mood swings, irritability, anxiety). The effect was small. Magnesium absorption appeared poor.
What it means for you
The combination might help mildly with anxiety symptoms, but the effect is small. Only one month of treatment was tested, and the researchers said longer supplementation might work better since absorption was poor. More research is needed.
44
women studied
200 mg magnesium
in combination dose
50 mg B6
in combination dose
About the study
- Original title
- A synergistic effect of a daily supplement for 1 month of 200 mg magnesium plus 50 mg vitamin B6 for the relief of anxiety-related premenstrual symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study
- Authors
- De Souza MC, Walker AF, Robinson PA et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 44
- What was tested
- 200 mg magnesium, 50 mg vitamin B6, both combined, or placebo, each for one menstrual cycle
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/152460900318623
Topics
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