---
title: Does iron status affect the risk of PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Women with genes suggesting high iron were less likely to experience some PMS symptoms like headaches, confusion, and nausea. No link was found between genes
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/genetics-of-iron-metabolism-and-premenstrual-symptoms-a-mendelian-randomization-2021/
---

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- Does iron status affect the risk of PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2021

# Does iron status affect the risk of PMS symptoms?

Women with genes suggesting high iron were less likely to experience some PMS symptoms like headaches, confusion, and nausea. No link was found between genes for low iron and PMS symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

254 White women aged 20-29 in Toronto

## What they did

Researchers studied 254 young White women and examined their genes related to iron metabolism. They tested four genes related to iron status and checked whether women with genes for high iron or low iron had more or fewer PMS symptoms.

## What they found

Women with genes for high iron were less likely to have headaches, confusion, and nausea during their menstrual cycle. No clear connection appeared between genes for low iron and any PMS symptoms.

## What it means for you

Iron status may influence certain PMS symptoms, especially headaches and nausea. The main limit is that this is a genetic study in young White women only, so findings may not apply to other groups. It does not show whether taking iron supplements would actually help.

254

women studied

3

symptoms less common in high iron group

4

genes examined

## About the study

Original title Genetics of Iron Metabolism and Premenstrual Symptoms: A Mendelian Randomization Study Authors Zeitoun T, Dehghan Noudeh N, Garcia-Bailo B et al. Journal The Journal of nutrition Year 2021 Study design Survey study Participants 254 What was tested None (genetic analysis only) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab048](https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab048)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Zinc and iron](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-zinc-iron/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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