Case-control study, 2011
Do women with PMS have different BDNF levels during their menstrual cycle than women without PMS?
Yes. Unlike healthy women, women with PMS have decreasing BDNF (a brain chemical) as they enter the luteal phase instead of increasing levels, and their luteal BDNF is significantly lower. This could be related to symptom onset.
What they did
Sixty-two women (35 with PMS, 27 without) had blood samples collected on day 7 of their cycle (follicular phase) and day 21 (luteal phase). Researchers measured BDNF and other hormones in the blood.
What they found
In the control group, plasma BDNF significantly increased from follicular phase (402.90±74.41 pg/ml) to luteal phase (1098.79±146.49 pg/ml, p<0.001). In the PMS group, plasma BDNF significantly decreased from follicular phase (412.45±78.35 pg/ml) to luteal phase (233.03±75.46 pg/ml, p<0.001). The luteal BDNF levels in PMS women were significantly lower than in control women (p<0.001).
What it means for you
Women with PMS show the opposite pattern of BDNF change compared to healthy women across the cycle. Lower BDNF during the luteal phase may be related to mood and cognitive symptoms of PMS, possibly because BDNF is involved in brain function and mood. This pattern might reflect an altered hormonal response, but more research is needed to understand the cause.
1098.79
control group luteal BDNF (pg/ml)
233.03
PMS group luteal BDNF (pg/ml)
p<0.001
significance of all differences
About the study
- Original title
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma variation during the different phases of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Cubeddu A, Bucci F, Giannini A et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 35
- What was tested
- Measurement of BDNF and hormones during follicular and luteal phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.08.006
Topics
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