---
title: Does vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) help premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: Vitamin B6 showed a small benefit overall after 3 cycles, though it did not clearly improve individual symptoms more than placebo.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/controlled-trial-of-pyridoxine-in-the-premenstrual-syndrome-1985/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) help premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 1985

# Does vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) help premenstrual syndrome?

Vitamin B6 showed a small benefit overall after 3 cycles, though it did not clearly improve individual symptoms more than placebo.

 Strong study design

617 women with PMS diagnosed in general practice (434 analyzed)

## What they did

617 women diagnosed with PMS in general practice were randomly assigned to receive either pyridoxine or placebo in a blind study for 3 menstrual cycles. 434 women were analyzed. Doctors assessed 9 different symptoms.

## What they found

Both treatment and placebo improved 7 of the 9 symptoms assessed. The difference between pyridoxine and placebo was not statistically significant for individual symptoms. However, overall assessment after 3 cycles was significantly greater in the pyridoxine group (p less than 0.02).

## What it means for you

Vitamin B6 may provide modest overall symptom improvement in PMS, though the benefit for specific symptoms is not clear. This is a large study done in real-world primary care settings, which is a strength. However, the effect size appears small.

617

women enrolled in general practice

434

women analyzed

3

menstrual cycles of treatment

## About the study

Original title Controlled trial of pyridoxine in the premenstrual syndrome Authors Williams MJ, Harris RI, Dean BC Journal The Journal of international medical research Year 1985 Study design Randomised trial Participants 617 What was tested Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) versus placebo for 3 menstrual cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/030006058501300305](https://doi.org/10.1177/030006058501300305)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Diagnosis experience and healthcare access](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-healthcare-access/)

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

Cohort study, 2016

How often do doctors diagnose PMS and what treatments do they prescribe?

Survey study, 2002

What treatments do doctors prescribe for PMS?

Survey study, 1997

How common are premenstrual symptoms, what treatments do women use, and do they work?

Survey study, 1986

What do general practitioners think about PMS and women who have it?

Systematic review, 2025

Do nutritional interventions help with emotional symptoms of PMS?

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗