Randomised trial, 2017
Does vitamin B1 reduce appetite changes and food cravings related to premenstrual syndrome?
Yes. Vitamin B1 significantly reduced emotional symptoms of PMS by 35.08%, including a reduction in cravings for sweets of 2.42%.
What they did
One hundred university students with PMS living in dormitories were randomly divided into two groups. One received vitamin B1 and the other received placebo. Emotional symptoms, especially appetite changes and cravings for sweets, were recorded over two menstrual cycles before and during treatment.
What they found
The vitamin B1 group had a 35.08% reduction in mental symptoms compared to before treatment. Desire to eat sweets was reduced by 2.42%. These reductions were statistically significant (P < 0.0001 for mental symptoms).
What it means for you
Vitamin B1 appears to substantially reduce emotional symptoms of PMS. It reduced the craving for sweets by only 2.42%, which is a small effect. The study did not specify the dose of vitamin B1 used, and included only university students in dormitories, so results may not apply to all women.
100
university students
35.08%
reduction in mental symptoms
2.42%
reduction in cravings for sweets
About the study
- Original title
- The effect of vitamin B1 on the change of appetite related to premenstrual syndrome in young women
- Authors
- Sareh Abdollahifard, Majid Maddahfar
- Journal
- European Psychiatry
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 100
- What was tested
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) - dose not specified in abstract
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1834
Topics
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