--- title: Do women with PMS have different BDNF levels during their menstrual cycle than women without PMS? description: Yes. Unlike healthy women, women with PMS have decreasing BDNF (a brain chemical) as they enter the luteal phase instead of increasing levels, and their lutea url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor-plasma-variation-during-the-different-phases-2011/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS have different BDNF levels during their menstrual cycle than women without PMS? Case-control study, 2011 # Do women with PMS have different BDNF levels during their menstrual cycle than women without PMS? Yes. Unlike healthy women, women with PMS have decreasing BDNF (a brain chemical) as they enter the luteal phase instead of increasing levels, and their luteal BDNF is significantly lower. This could be related to symptom onset. Moderate study design 62 women: 35 with PMS, 27 healthy controls ## What they did Sixty-two women (35 with PMS, 27 without) had blood samples collected on day 7 of their cycle (follicular phase) and day 21 (luteal phase). Researchers measured BDNF and other hormones in the blood. ## What they found In the control group, plasma BDNF significantly increased from follicular phase (402.90±74.41 pg/ml) to luteal phase (1098.79±146.49 pg/ml, p<0.001). In the PMS group, plasma BDNF significantly decreased from follicular phase (412.45±78.35 pg/ml) to luteal phase (233.03±75.46 pg/ml, p<0.001). The luteal BDNF levels in PMS women were significantly lower than in control women (p<0.001). ## What it means for you Women with PMS show the opposite pattern of BDNF change compared to healthy women across the cycle. Lower BDNF during the luteal phase may be related to mood and cognitive symptoms of PMS, possibly because BDNF is involved in brain function and mood. This pattern might reflect an altered hormonal response, but more research is needed to understand the cause. 1098.79 control group luteal BDNF (pg/ml) 233.03 PMS group luteal BDNF (pg/ml) p<0.001 significance of all differences ## About the study Original title Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma variation during the different phases of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Cubeddu A, Bucci F, Giannini A et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2011 Study design Case-control study Participants 35 What was tested Measurement of BDNF and hormones during follicular and luteal phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.08.006](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.08.006) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2025 Does zinc supplementation help with PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2024 Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD? Cohort study, 2023 Are PMS symptoms linked to genetic factors for psychiatric disorders? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗