Survey study, 2017
Are prolactin and beta-arrestin1 different in PMDD versus PMS?
In women with PMDD and depression, beta-arrestin1 protein was reduced and prolactin was increased compared to those with PMS. These two changes were correlated. This is a tiny study and much more research is needed.
What they did
A cross-sectional study of 25 non-pregnant women aged 18-42 with PMS or PMDD symptoms who were not taking antidepressants, studied during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Blood samples were tested to measure beta-arrestin1 protein levels in blood cells and prolactin hormone levels in blood plasma.
What they found
In women with PMDD and depression, reduction in beta-arrestin1 protein in blood cells was significantly correlated with increased prolactin levels, compared to women with PMS alone.
What it means for you
PMDD may involve different biology than PMS, involving changes in a specific blood protein and prolactin hormone. However, this is an extremely small study of only 25 women looking at a single biomarker. It is not clear what these protein and hormone changes mean for women experiencing symptoms, and much more research is needed before this could be used as a diagnostic test.
25
Non-pregnant women studied
18-42
Age range of participants (years)
About the study
- Original title
- Correlation between beta‐arrestin1 and prolactin levels in women with depression during premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Keisha Smith, Anthony E. Archibong, Twum Ampofo Ansah et al.
- Journal
- The FASEB Journal
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 25
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.1000.7
Topics
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