Study, 1986
Do women with PMS have lower magnesium levels?
Women with PMS have significantly lower magnesium inside their red blood cells compared to women without PMS, but magnesium in the liquid part of blood is normal. The practical importance of this finding is not yet clear.
What they did
Researchers measured magnesium levels in 105 women with PMS in two places: in the liquid part of blood (plasma) and inside red blood cells (erythrocytes). They compared these measurements to magnesium levels in women without PMS.
What they found
Women with PMS had significantly lower magnesium inside their red blood cells compared to women without PMS. The magnesium in the liquid part of blood was the same in both groups.
What it means for you
There may be a magnesium deficiency inside the cells of women with PMS, but it does not show up in standard blood tests. The practical importance of this cellular deficiency is not yet known.
105
women with PMS studied
About the study
- Original title
- Magnesium and the premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Sherwood RA, Rocks BF, Stewart A et al.
- Journal
- Annals of clinical biochemistry
- Year
- 1986
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 105
- What was tested
- No intervention; comparison study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/000456328602300607
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2025
Do nutritional interventions help with emotional symptoms of PMS?
Systematic review, 2013
Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?
Systematic review, 2009
Which herbs, vitamins and minerals help treat PMS?
Systematic review, 2007
What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?
Randomised trial, 2003
What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?
Randomised trial, 2003
What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues?