Randomised trial, 2007
Does vitamin B6 reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Yes, vitamin B6 reduced PMS severity more than placebo, particularly emotional symptoms. Both groups improved during the second cycle, but B6 showed more improvement.
What they did
Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 160 university students with PMS. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin B6 or placebo. The B6 group took 40 mg twice daily (80 mg total per day). Treatment started on the first day of the fourth menstrual cycle and continued for two cycles while symptoms were recorded. Ninety-four participants completed the study.
What they found
In the second cycle of treatment, both groups showed significant decrease in PMS severity. The vitamin B6 group improved more than placebo. The improvement was mainly from reducing emotional symptoms like mood changes rather than physical symptoms like pain or bloating.
What it means for you
This study suggests vitamin B6 may help reduce emotional PMS symptoms. The limitation is that it only studied university students and focused mainly on emotional rather than physical symptoms, so results may not apply to all women or all types of PMS.
160
university students enrolled
80 mg
daily vitamin B6 dose
2 cycles
treatment duration
About the study
- Original title
- Pyridoxine (B6) for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Authors
- Maryam Kashanian, Robabeh Mazinani, S.H. Jalalmanesh
- Journal
- European Psychiatry
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 160
- What was tested
- Vitamin B6 40 mg twice daily for 2 menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.01.932
Topics
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