---
title: Does a special carbohydrate drink help mood and thinking problems in PMS?
description: Yes, the carbohydrate beverage significantly reduced depression, anger, confusion, and food cravings 90 to 180 minutes after drinking it, and improved memory
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-a-carbohydrate-rich-beverage-on-mood-appetite-and-cognitive-1995/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does a special carbohydrate drink help mood and thinking problems in PMS?

Randomised trial, 1995

# Does a special carbohydrate drink help mood and thinking problems in PMS?

Yes, the carbohydrate beverage significantly reduced depression, anger, confusion, and food cravings 90 to 180 minutes after drinking it, and improved memory performance.

 Moderate study design

Twenty-four women with confirmed PMS

## What they did

Twenty-four women with confirmed PMS participated in a double-blind, crossover study over three menstrual cycles. They consumed the specially-formulated carbohydrate beverage, an isocaloric control beverage, and placebo. Mood, memory, and food cravings were tested before and at 30, 90, and 180 minutes after consumption during the premenstrual phase.

## What they found

The carbohydrate beverage significantly decreased self-reported depression, anger, confusion, and food cravings at 90 to 180 minutes after intake. Memory word recognition was also significantly improved. The control beverages had no significant effects.

## What it means for you

A specially-formulated carbohydrate beverage can quickly improve mood and memory in women with PMS, with effects lasting about 90 to 180 minutes. The study was small and only tested short-term effects.

24

women with PMS

3

menstrual cycles studied

90-180

minutes when effects occurred

## About the study

Original title The effect of a carbohydrate-rich beverage on mood, appetite, and cognitive function in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Sayegh R, Schiff I, Wurtman J et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 1995 Study design Randomised trial What was tested A specially-formulated carbohydrate-rich beverage versus isocaloric placebo beverages Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(95)00246-n](https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(95)00246-n)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)

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

Case-control study, 2018

Do women with PMDD crave different foods than healthy women?

Case-control study, 2010

Do women with PMDD crave high-sugar and high-fat foods more than other women?

Randomised trial, 1995

Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS?

Survey study, 2012

Do women with PMS eat more food before their period?

Review, 2001

What causes PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated?

Review, 1997

Does appetite and food cravings change during the menstrual cycle, especially in women with PMS?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗