--- title: Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome? description: This study found that oxidative stress markers were linked to more depression and food cravings symptoms and more severe PMS, but antioxidant vitamin levels w url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/serum-antioxidant-vitamin-concentrations-and-oxidative-stress-markers-associated-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome? Cohort study, 2021 # Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome? This study found that oxidative stress markers were linked to more depression and food cravings symptoms and more severe PMS, but antioxidant vitamin levels were mostly not associated with PMS symptoms. Strong study design 259 healthy premenopausal women aged 18-44 ## What they did Researchers followed 259 healthy women aged 18-44 for up to 2 menstrual cycles. They measured blood levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, C, E) and oxidative stress markers (F2-isoprostane) up to 8 times per cycle and tracked 20 different PMS symptoms 4 times per cycle. ## What they found Higher antioxidant vitamin levels were largely not linked to PMS. Only gamma-tocopherol was significantly associated, with higher levels linked to less hand and foot swelling. However, higher F2-isoprostane (a marker of oxidative stress) was associated with more depression and food cravings symptoms, and with more severe PMS overall. ## What it means for you Oxidative stress may play a role in PMS, particularly in mood symptoms and cravings. However, antioxidant vitamin levels do not appear to be the main factor in PMS. This large cohort study is strong evidence, but these associations are new and need further research to understand what they mean. 259 Healthy women aged 18-44 8 Times per cycle measuring antioxidants and stress markers 20 PMS symptoms tracked ## About the study Original title Serum antioxidant vitamin concentrations and oxidative stress markers associated with symptoms and severity of premenstrual syndrome: a prospective cohort study Authors Frankel RA, Michels KA, Kim K et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2021 Study design Cohort study Participants 259 What was tested None - observational study measuring vitamins and oxidative stress markers Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01187-7](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01187-7) Original abstract Background: It has been suggested that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may derive from either elevated oxidative stress or reduced antioxidant vitamin levels in the body; however, these relationships have been minimally studied in a large cohort of healthy women. Our objective was to estimate the association between serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E) and markers of oxidative stress (F2-isoprostane) with symptoms and severity of PMS. Methods: The BioCycle study was a prospective cohort study following 259 healthy premenopausal women aged 18-44 years for up to 2 menstrual cycles. Frequency/severity of 20 PMS symptoms were assessed via questionnaires 4 times/cycle, and antioxidant vitamins and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured up to 8 times/cycle to correspond with specific cycle phases. Generalized linear models were used to estimate associations between mean antioxidant concentrations and oxidative stress biomarkers with PMS symptoms and severity; linear mixed models were used to evaluate associations with symptom severity scores within groups (e.g. depression, cravings, pain). Results: Higher concentrations of serum antioxidant vitamins were largely not associated with prevalence or severity of PMS symptoms. Though a few associations were observed, only associations between mean γ-tocopherol and decreased odds of swelling of the hands/feet survived adjustment for multiple comparisons (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16, 0.65, per ug/dL). However, F2-isoprostanes were associated with prevalence and severity of several symptoms specifically related to depression and cravings (depression score β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02, 0.12, per 10 ug/dL; cravings score β = 0.16, 95% CI 0.10, 0.22, per 10 ug/dL), as well as with classification of PMS severity (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01, 1.14, per 10 pg/dL), with these associations surviving adjustment for false discovery rate. Conclusions: F2-isoprostanes, but not antioxidant vitamins, were associated with select PMS symptoms, as well as symptom and severity categories. Specific symptom relationships merit further research. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Vitamin E](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-e/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) 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, 2025 Do pain sensitivity and negative thinking explain how trauma and stress cause PMS or PMDD? Case-control study, 2013 Are stress hormones different in women with PMDD? Cohort study, 2026 Does brain structure differ between women with PMDD and healthy controls? Survey study, 2026 Does eating foods that cause inflammation link to worse food cravings and mood problems in women with PMS? Survey study, 2013 Does smoking behavior change across the menstrual cycle and is it linked to mood and period symptoms? Randomised trial, 2019 Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗