---
title: Does dark chocolate reduce PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, eating dark chocolate daily for 2 weeks before menstruation reduced most PMS symptoms including anxiety, fatigue, and cramps in this small study. However
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/black-chocolate-consumption-reduces-subjective-symptoms-in-18-22-years-old-2015/
---

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- Does dark chocolate reduce PMS symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2015

# Does dark chocolate reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes, eating dark chocolate daily for 2 weeks before menstruation reduced most PMS symptoms including anxiety, fatigue, and cramps in this small study. However, acne slightly worsened.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women aged 18-22 with PMS

## What they did

30 women aged 18-22 with PMS ate 20 grams of dark chocolate every day for 2 weeks before their period. Before and after, they completed questionnaires about their PMS symptoms.

## What they found

Anxiety symptoms decreased significantly. Fatigue, cramps, bloating, diarrhea, headache, back pain, appetite changes, muscle or joint pain, and concentration problems all improved. Acne complaints increased from 73.3% to 76.7%.

## What it means for you

Dark chocolate may help with many PMS symptoms in young women. However, this was a small study without a comparison group, so results may not apply to all women. The increase in acne should be noted.

30

women studied

20 grams

dark chocolate per day

2 weeks

duration before menstruation

## About the study

Original title Black Chocolate Consumption Reduces Subjective Symptoms in 18-22 Years Old Females with Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Eliza Nurazizah, Fen Tih, Winny Suwindere Journal Journal Of Medicine & Health Year 2015 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 30 What was tested 20 grams of dark chocolate daily for 2 weeks before menstruation Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.28932/jmh.v1i1.502](https://doi.org/10.28932/jmh.v1i1.502)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)

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.

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