Case-control study, 1987
Do women with PMS have different brain chemistry, and can vitamin B6 fix it?
Women with PMS have higher levels of a brain chemical linked to stress. Vitamin B6 did not reduce these levels.
What they did
Researchers compared urine samples from women with PMS to samples from healthy women to measure a brain chemical. Some women with PMS also took vitamin B6 (120 mg per day) for one full menstrual cycle, and their urine was measured again.
What they found
Women with PMS had MHPG levels (a brain chemical marker) 40% higher than healthy controls and produced 20% more urine per day. Vitamin B6 did not reduce MHPG levels, but it did increase daytime urine production by 12%.
What it means for you
Women with PMS show signs of higher stress-related brain activity, which might help explain some symptoms. However, vitamin B6 did not reduce this activity. A major limitation is that the study's sample size is not stated, making it hard to know how reliable the findings are.
40%
Higher MHPG levels in PMS group
120 mg
Daily dose of vitamin B6
12%
Increase in daytime urine production with B6
About the study
- Original title
- Increased urinary MHPG excretion in premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The effect of vitamin B6
- Authors
- Jaap Schrijver, Elisabeth S. Louwerse, Hein W. Bruinse et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Year
- 1987
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- Vitamin B6, 120 mg daily for one menstrual cycle
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674828709019421
Topics
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