---
title: Do women with PMS have different blood fatty acids than healthy women?
description: Yes. Women with PMS have higher amounts of linoleic acid but lower amounts of what their body should make from it. This suggests their bodies may not process
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/abnormalities-in-plasma-essential-fatty-acid-levels-in-women-with-premenstrual-1991/
---

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- Do women with PMS have different blood fatty acids than healthy women?

Study, 1991

# Do women with PMS have different blood fatty acids than healthy women?

Yes. Women with PMS have higher amounts of linoleic acid but lower amounts of what their body should make from it. This suggests their bodies may not process this fatty acid correctly.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with PMS and women with different types of breast disease, compared with healthy women

## What they did

Researchers measured fatty acids in the blood of women in different groups: women with PMS, women with breast tenderness that comes and goes with their cycle, women with breast tenderness that does not change with their cycle, and healthy women. They compared fatty acid levels between groups.

## What they found

All groups with PMS or breast symptoms had the same abnormal pattern compared to healthy women. They had more linoleic acid than healthy women, but less of the substances their body should make from it. This indicates a problem in how their body processes linoleic acid.

## What it means for you

Some women with PMS may have a problem converting an essential fatty acid in their body. This could be tested and possibly treated. The main limits are the study does not say how many women were in each group, and it is not clear how this fatty acid problem causes PMS symptoms.

2

groups with PMS studied

## About the study

Original title Abnormalities in Plasma Essential Fatty Acid Levels in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and with Non-malignant Breast Disease Authors David F. Horrobin, Mehar S. Manku, M. G. Brush et al. Journal Journal of Nutritional Medicine Year 1991 Study design Study What was tested None (blood test study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/13590849109084123](https://doi.org/10.3109/13590849109084123)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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