Randomised trial, 2008
Do brain glutamate levels change during the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?
Brain glutamate levels decrease during the luteal phase in both women with PMDD and healthy women. Women with PMDD may experience symptoms because they are more sensitive to these brain changes, though the reason is not yet clear.
What they did
12 women with PMDD and 13 healthy women had two brain scans using special MRI technology. One scan was during the follicular phase and one during the luteal phase of their cycle.
What they found
Glutamate levels in the brain's medial prefrontal cortex were significantly lower during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase. Both groups showed this same decrease. No significant difference was found between PMDD and healthy women, but PMDD women may be more sensitive to these phase-related brain changes.
What it means for you
Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affect brain glutamate levels, which could help explain PMDD symptoms. However, this is still poorly understood. The sample was small and specialized brain imaging was used, so the practical meaning for treatment remains unclear.
12
Women with PMDD
13
Healthy control women
2
Brain scans per person
About the study
- Original title
- Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurement of brain glutamate levels in premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Batra NA, Seres-Mailo J, Hanstock C et al.
- Journal
- Biological psychiatry
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Brain imaging during follicular and luteal phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.10.007
Topics
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