Case-control study, 2017
Is leptin hormone involved in causing or worsening PMS?
Possibly. Two of three studies found higher leptin in women with PMS, but results were mixed and conflicting. We cannot yet say if leptin causes PMS or just marks symptom severity.
What they did
Literature review of published studies. Researchers searched databases for studies examining leptin and PMS and identified three studies with a combined 181 participants.
What they found
Two out of three studies found higher leptin levels in women with PMS. However, the three studies gave conflicting results about leptin levels during the luteal phase and correlations between leptin, estradiol, and progesterone levels.
What it means for you
Leptin, a hormone affecting hunger and reproduction, might have a role in PMS and could mark symptom severity. The evidence is weak and inconsistent. A major limitation is only three small studies were found and they disagreed with each other. Much more research is needed.
3
Studies reviewed
181
Total participants across studies
2
Studies finding higher leptin in PMS (of 3)
About the study
- Original title
- Plasma Leptin and Premenstrual Syndrome: A Review
- Authors
- Nicolau ZFM, Bezerra AG, Polesel DN et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrical & gynecological survey
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 181
- What was tested
- None (literature review).
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/ogx.0000000000000502