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Study, 2022

Is there higher DNA damage from oxidative stress before your period if you have PMS or PMDD?

Yes. Women with moderate-to-severe PMS or PMDD showed higher DNA damage markers before their period than after, and had higher levels compared to women without or with mild PMS symptoms.

Early or limited evidence 21 young Japanese women aged 19-24, with varying levels of PMS or PMDD symptoms

What they did

Researchers studied 21 young Japanese women aged 19-24. 14 had no or mild PMS, 5 had moderate-to-severe PMS, and 2 had PMDD. They measured a marker of DNA damage in blood at different times during the menstrual cycle and assessed depression symptoms using a standard scale.

What they found

In all women studied, the DNA damage marker was higher before menstruation than after. In women with moderate-to-severe PMS or PMDD, the DNA damage marker was higher before menstruation than after. Women with moderate-to-severe PMS or PMDD also had higher DNA damage markers before menstruation compared to women with no or mild PMS. Depression was linked to PMS symptoms in women with moderate-to-severe PMS or PMDD.

What it means for you

Women with moderate-to-severe PMS or PMDD may experience higher DNA damage from oxidative stress before their period. This suggests oxidative stress and depression may play a role in how PMS develops. However, this was a small study in a specific population, and more research is needed to understand if these findings could help with treatment.

21

Women studied

14

Women with no or mild PMS symptoms

7

Women with moderate-to-severe PMS or PMDD

About the study

Original title
The Concentration of 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine in Plasma During the Menstrual Cycle in Young Japanese Women
Authors
Yama K, Shinbo H, Fujikane Y et al.
Journal
Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
Year
2022
Study design
Study
Participants
21
What was tested
None (measurement only)
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Background: The exact pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in plasma in relation to the menstrual cycle and the severity of premenstrual symptoms in young Japanese women. Methods: The study included 21 healthy Japanese women 19-24 years of age. Fourteen women had no or mild PMS [PMS (-)], while five women had moderate to severe PMS and two women exhibited PMDD [PMS (+)]. The concentration of 8-OHdG in plasma was measured by means of high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was used to evaluate the depressive tendency. Results: The concentration of 8-OHdG before menstruation was significantly higher than that after menstruation in total subjects ( p = 0.04). In the PMS (+) group, the 8-OHdG concentration before menstruation was higher than that after menstruation ( p = 0.02). Moreover, the PMS (+) group showed a higher 8-OHdG concentration compared with the PMS (-) group before menstruation ( p p Conclusions: These results suggested that the oxidation of DNA occurred before menstruation in PMS. The depression was associated with PMS symptoms both before and after menstruation in patients with PMS. Oxidation of DNA due to oxidative stress and depression in PMS patients may be involved in the pathogenesis of PMS. Clinical Trial Registration number 15-02-011.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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