Vitamin E: what the research says

Do vitamin D and E supplements reduce menstrual pain and PMS symptoms?

Yes, vitamin D and E supplements significantly reduced menstrual pain and PMS symptoms over 4 months, especially in women with low vitamin D levels.

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.

Which herbs, vitamins and minerals help treat PMS?

Only calcium has good evidence to work for PMS. Chasteberry and vitamin B6 may help, but most of the 62 products people try lack proper research.

Which dietary supplements help PMS?

Only calcium has strong evidence from large rigorous trials. Magnesium, vitamin E, and carbohydrate supplements show limited promise but need more research. Vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil have mixed results.

Does a combination of evening primrose oil, tocotrienol, and vitamin B6 reduce premenstrual symptoms?

Yes. In women with PMS taking this combination for 3 months, premenstrual symptoms improved significantly. The overall PMS score dropped by 61.03%, menstrual pain dropped by 75.20%, and breast tenderness dropped by 82.54%.

Does gamma-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. Gamma-tocopherol significantly reduced fatigue and anger, and also reduced leg swelling. Because this was a well-designed controlled trial where each woman tried both treatments, we can be fairly confident about these effects.

Do vitamins and minerals help reduce PMS symptoms?

Some vitamins and minerals appear to help reduce PMS symptoms, including vitamin E, B6, D and minerals like magnesium, zinc, and calcium. These findings come from reviewing studies published between 1980 and 2020.

What treatments help premenstrual syndrome?

Both medications and non-drug treatments help PMS. Non-drug options including herbs, supplements, exercise, and therapy are recommended as they have fewer side effects.

Do vitamin B6 and vitamin E help reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. Both vitamin B6 and vitamin E significantly reduced PMS symptoms compared to placebo. The two vitamins were equally effective with no significant difference between them.

Does Pilates or vitamin E reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. Both Pilates and vitamin E reduced mood and physical symptoms and their impact on daily life, with the two together improving PMS more than either alone.

Do vitamin D and E supplements reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. Both vitamin D and E significantly reduced PMS symptoms compared to placebo.

Can femicomfort (vitamin B6, E, and evening primrose oil) relieve PMS symptoms?

Yes. Women taking femicomfort reported relief of PMS symptoms compared to placebo. The supplement was well-tolerated with no significant increase in side effects.

Does aspirin or vitamins help with cyclic breast pain before your period?

No, neither aspirin nor a vitamin combination worked better than placebo. The placebo group actually improved the most.

Does a dietary supplement called Karinat help premenstrual syndrome and breast pain?

Yes, Karinat improved symptoms in 75.8% of women, which was 45.5 percentage points more than those taking placebo.

Do women with PMS have vitamin or mineral deficiencies?

No. The study found no difference in vitamin and mineral levels between women with PMS and healthy women, so deficiencies probably do not cause PMS.

Does vitamin E reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes, vitamin E significantly improved certain emotional and physical PMS symptoms compared to placebo. This was a moderate-sized randomized trial.

How should breast pain from PMS be treated?

Breast pain is part of PMS. Many treatments exist but we do not have clear evidence about which ones work.

Does vitamin E help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. Vitamin E significantly improved symptoms in three of the four classes of PMS, though it did not change hormone levels directly.

Does vitamin E help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. Vitamin E significantly improved three of the four classes of PMS symptoms over two months, better than placebo.

Can nutrients help PMS by regulating multiple body systems?

The paper proposes a theoretical framework suggesting nutrients could work across brain, hormone, blood vessel, and metabolic systems to help PMS. No evidence is presented. This is a conceptual proposal requiring clinical trials.

Can soy isoflavone supplements help with PMS and PMDD symptoms?

This paper describes theoretical mechanisms through which soy isoflavone supplements could help PMS and PMDD by affecting hormones, neurotransmitters, and inflammation. However, it presents only theoretical pathways, not results from actual human trials, so real-world effectiveness remains unknown.

Could ginkgo biloba, soy, and other nutrients help hormone-related mood problems like PMS and PMDD?

This paper presents a theoretical model suggesting ginkgo biloba, soy isoflavones, and supporting nutrients might together support hormone, blood vessel, and brain chemical balance in conditions such as PMS and PMDD. It is not a new study in women, so we cannot know how well it works.

Could taking a combination of vitamins and minerals help with PMS and PMDD symptoms?

This paper proposes a theoretical framework linking low or borderline vitamin and mineral intake to many health problems, including PMS and PMDD, but it is not a new study testing a supplement in women, so it cannot tell us how well any particular combination actually works.

Does pollen extract help with menopausal symptoms and premenstrual syndrome?

A review found that pollen extract safely reduced menopausal symptoms and PMS without providing estrogen, working like certain antidepressants. However, this is a summary of other studies, not new research.

Does eating avocado reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. PMS symptom scores dropped significantly when first-year students ate avocado, from an average of 18.20 to 14.13.

Does nutrient intake and exercise affect PMS symptom severity?

Yes. Women with higher calcium intake had significantly fewer PMS symptoms across all age groups. Exercise frequency was also associated with lower symptoms in women in their thirties and forties. This suggests dietary and lifestyle changes may help.

What supplements or alternative treatments help PMS symptoms?

Several supplements show evidence for helping PMS: calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, thiamine (vitamin B1), and omega-3 fatty acids. Japanese herbal formulas may also help.

Can diet help with premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes, several nutrients may help with PMS symptoms, including nutrients that affect serotonin levels, plus magnesium, calcium, and vitamin E.

Do women with premenstrual syndrome have lower vitamin E levels?

No. Vitamin E levels were the same in patients with and without premenstrual syndrome in both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

Can nutrition and diet changes help with PMS symptoms?

Research on the nutritional theory of PMS is controversial, but practical diet changes may help. Eating balanced meals, limiting salt and caffeine, choosing complex carbohydrates over refined sugar, and getting enough calcium may improve symptoms. Large supplement doses are not recommended.

What is the best approach to treating PMS?

Start with reassurance, dietary changes, and regular exercise. If that does not work, add vitamin B6, and optionally vitamin E or zinc. If still not effective, add a diuretic or natural progesterone. For very resistant cases, bromocriptine or danazol may be considered.

Does vitamin E help breast symptoms in premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Vitamin E reduced some breast symptoms in women with PMS compared to placebo.

Does nutrition affect premenstrual symptoms?

Yes. Different types of premenstrual symptoms may respond to different nutritional approaches: vitamin B6 (200-800 mg per day) for anxiety and water retention, magnesium for appetite and cravings, and limiting salt (to 3 grams per day), caffeine, and nicotine.