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.
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
Topics
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