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Randomised trial, 2016

Can vitamin B1 reduce depression linked to PMS?

Yes, in this study vitamin B1 lowered depression scores related to PMS more than placebo, but this is one small trial so more research would help confirm it.

Moderate study design 108 female university students with PMS living in dormitories at Jahrom University, Iran

What they did

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at Jahrom University in 2014. 108 students with PMS living in dormitories were randomly split into a vitamin B1 group and a placebo group. Depression related to PMS was tracked over two menstrual cycles, one before and one during treatment, using a daily record form and the Beck Depression Inventory.

What they found

In the vitamin B1 group, mean depression related to PMS dropped by 42.06% from before treatment to during treatment, and the abstract reports this change was significant.

What it means for you

This suggests vitamin B1 may ease depressive symptoms of PMS without side effects, but the abstract does not give full comparison details with the placebo group, and the study was in one group of university students in Iran, so results may not apply to everyone.

108

Participants

42.06%

Drop in depression score in B1 group

About the study

Original title
The effects of vitamin B1 on ameliorating of depression related to the premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Sareh Abdollahifard, Majid Maddahfar
Journal
European Psychiatry
Year
2016
Study design
Randomised trial
Participants
108
What was tested
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) versus placebo

Topics