Randomised trial, 1994
Does lowering serotonin worsen premenstrual symptoms?
Yes. When researchers reduced serotonin using tryptophan depletion, women's premenstrual symptoms got significantly worse, especially irritability. This suggests serotonin plays a role in PMS.
What they did
Sixteen women with documented PMS were tested at different phases of two menstrual cycles. Each woman received either a drink that depleted tryptophan (which the brain uses to make serotonin) or a sham drink as a comparison.
What they found
Actual tryptophan depletion caused significant worsening of premenstrual symptoms, particularly irritability, compared to the sham procedure. Symptom severity correlated with how much tryptophan levels dropped relative to other amino acids.
What it means for you
This supports that low serotonin may contribute to PMS, but the study was very small and used a specialized lab procedure that would not apply to everyday life.
16
women studied
2
menstrual cycles tested
About the study
- Original title
- Acute tryptophan depletion aggravates premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Menkes DB, Coates DC, Fawcett JP
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 16
- What was tested
- Acute tryptophan depletion vs sham procedure
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(94)90059-0
Topics
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