---
title: Can vitamin B deficiency play a role in causing premenstrual symptoms?
description: This work suggests that vitamin B deficiency could contribute to premenstrual symptoms and menstrual bleeding problems by affecting how the liver breaks down
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/nutritional-deficiency-in-the-etiology-of-menorrhagia-metrorrhagia-cystic-1943/
---

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- Can vitamin B deficiency play a role in causing premenstrual symptoms?

Lab study, 1943

# Can vitamin B deficiency play a role in causing premenstrual symptoms?

This work suggests that vitamin B deficiency could contribute to premenstrual symptoms and menstrual bleeding problems by affecting how the liver breaks down estrogen, based on review of existing evidence rather than a new study.

 Early or limited evidence

No specific population studied; this is a review of existing evidence

## What they did

The authors reviewed existing evidence about the relationship between vitamin B deficiency, estrogen handling, and premenstrual symptoms, drawing on previous observations and research.

## What they found

Estrogen appears to cause premenstrual and menstrual symptoms when it builds up in the body. Normally the liver breaks down (inactivates) estrogen, but vitamin B deficiency interferes with this process. Adding brewer's yeast to the diet was found to restore the liver's ability to inactivate estrogen.

## What it means for you

This suggests that vitamin B deficiency might contribute to premenstrual symptoms by preventing normal breakdown of estrogen, and that brewer's yeast might help. The main limit is that this is a theoretical review, not a study where people were actually given vitamin B and followed to see if it helped.

## About the study

Original title Nutritional Deficiency in the Etiology of Menorrhagia, Metrorrhagia, Cystic Mastitis and Premenstrual Tension; Treatment with Vitamin B Complex1 Authors Morton S. Biskind Journal The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Year 1943 Study design Lab study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1210/jcem-3-4-227](https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-3-4-227)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)

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