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Randomised trial, 2024

Does a banana drink with egg white reduce PMDD symptoms and improve mood?

The banana drink significantly reduced anxiety, fatigue, concentration problems, insomnia and physical symptoms, and improved mood. Serotonin levels did not increase significantly.

Moderate study design Collegiate female athletes with moderate or severe PMDD

What they did

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in collegiate female athletes with moderate to severe PMDD. Athletes in their late luteal phase received either banana drink with egg white or placebo. Testing of symptoms and mood occurred 3 hours after the drink.

What they found

Banana drink significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) anxiety, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, lack of energy, decreased social interest, insomnia, physical symptoms and home responsibility worries. Mood measures showed decreased depression, anger, fatigue and confusion. Serotonin levels did not significantly increase in either group.

What it means for you

A banana drink with egg white may reduce multiple PMDD symptoms and improve mood in the luteal phase, though not through increasing serotonin. Limitations: sample size unclear, specific to collegiate athletes, single acute dose tested.

p < 0.05

statistical significance for symptoms

60 seconds

push-up test duration

3 hours

interval before testing

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual symptoms, mood responses and level of serotonin: study on banana drinks enriched by egg albumin in the luteal phase of collegiate female athletes
Authors
Anna Noordia, Nining Widyah Kusnanik, Bambang Tri Purwanto et al.
Journal
Retos
Year
2024
Study design
Randomised trial
What was tested
Banana drink enriched with egg white, given 3 hours before testing
Open access
Yes

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