--- title: Are inflammatory markers different in women with PMS? | Niyora description: A small study found higher IL-10 (an inflammation marker) before menstruation in women with moderate-to-severe PMS. This is preliminary and needs confirmation url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/plasma-interleukin-10-levels-are-altered-in-women-with-severe-premenstrual-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are inflammatory markers different in women with PMS? Case-control study, 2020 # Are inflammatory markers different in women with PMS? A small study found higher IL-10 (an inflammation marker) before menstruation in women with moderate-to-severe PMS. This is preliminary and needs confirmation in larger studies. Early or limited evidence 21 healthy Japanese women aged 19 to 24 with regular cycles ## What they did Case-control study of 21 healthy Japanese women aged 19 to 24 with regular menstrual cycles. Blood samples were taken before and after menstruation to measure inflammation markers. Depression was assessed using a standard scale. ## What they found Of the 21 women, 7 had moderate-to-severe PMS and 14 had no or mild PMS. IL-10 was significantly higher before menstruation in women with PMS compared to those without. In women without PMS, IL-10 was lower before than after menstruation. Other inflammation markers showed no differences. Women with PMS had higher depression scores both before and after menstruation. Depression scores correlated with IL-6 before menstruation and with IL-10 after menstruation. ## What it means for you Higher IL-10 before menstruation might relate to PMS and depression. Main limit: small preliminary study from one country needs confirmation. 21 women in study 7 with moderate-to-severe PMS 19-24 age range in years ## About the study Original title Plasma Interleukin-10 Levels Are Altered in Women with Severe Premenstrual Syndrome: A Preliminary Study Authors Yama K, Asari Y, Ono A et al. Journal Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Year 2020 Study design Case-control study Participants 21 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/whr.2019.0010](https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2019.0010) Original abstract Background: The precise pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is unknown, and chronic inflammation has been implicated in PMS. However, inflammatory markers, including cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP), have not been investigated before and after menstruation in relation to PMS among the same participants. This study investigated whether the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and CRP are related to PMS. Methods: The study included 21 healthy Japanese women (aged 19-24 years) with a regular menstrual cycle. Inflammatory marker levels in plasma were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the level of depressiveness was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Results: Of the 21 women, 7 were considered to have moderate-to-severe PMS (PMS [+] group) and 14 were considered to have no or mild PMS (PMS [-]), and none of the participants had premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The IL-10 levels were significantly lower before than after menstruation in the PMS (-) group. The IL-10 levels before menstruation were significantly higher in the PMS (+) group than in the PMS (-) group. Other markers did not show relevant differences between the groups. The CES-D scores were higher in the PMS (+) group than in the PMS (-) group both before and after menstruation. There were positive correlations between the CES-D scores and IL-6 levels before menstruation and the CES-D scores and IL-10 levels after menstruation. Conclusions: The IL-10 levels before menstruation were higher in women with PMS than in those without PMS, and these levels might be related to PMS. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2026 How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗