Case-control study, 2000
Do women with PMS respond differently to tryptophan than women without PMS?
Yes. Women with PMS showed a reduced response when given tryptophan in the days before their period, and they had higher baseline stress hormone (cortisol) levels.
What they did
Five women with documented PMS and five healthy women of similar age and body weight received an intravenous dose of L-tryptophan twice a week for one month. Blood levels of serotonin, cortisol, and prolactin were measured at baseline and at multiple time points (30, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 minutes after injection).
What they found
In women with PMS, the serotonin response to tryptophan was blunted (reduced) in the luteal phase (days before the period) compared with healthy women. Women with PMS also had higher baseline cortisol levels during the luteal phase. Prolactin levels did not differ between groups.
What it means for you
This very small study suggests that women with PMS may have differences in how their bodies handle tryptophan (which is used to make serotonin) in the second half of the menstrual cycle. The findings support other research on tryptophan handling in PMS. However, the study had only 5 women per group, so results need confirmation in larger studies.
5
Women with PMS tested
5
Healthy control women
1 month
Study duration
About the study
- Original title
- Neuroendocrine response to an intravenous L-tryptophan challenge in women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Rasgon N, McGuire M, Tanavoli S et al.
- Journal
- Fertility and sterility
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- Intravenous L-tryptophan challenge
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00452-5
Topics
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