Randomised trial, 2020
What is the best dose of Vitex for treating PMS?
A dose of 20 mg daily was most effective for reducing PMS symptoms. Higher dose (30 mg) was no better, and lower dose (8 mg) was less effective.
What they did
Multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with 162 women aged 18-45 with PMS. Participants received placebo or Vitex agnus castus extract Ze 440 at doses of 8, 20, or 30 mg daily over 3 menstrual cycles. PMS symptom severity was measured by visual analog scale for symptoms including irritability, mood changes, anger, headache, bloating, and breast tenderness.
What they found
The 20 mg dose significantly reduced total symptom scores compared to placebo and the 8 mg dose. The 30 mg dose did not reduce symptoms significantly more than the 20 mg dose. Similar dose-response patterns were observed for individual symptoms.
What it means for you
For this Vitex extract, 20 mg per day appears to be the optimal dose. More is not better. This is a well-designed study with multiple sites.
162
Women with PMS
20 mg
Optimal daily dose
3
Menstrual cycles of treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Dose-Dependent Efficacy of the Vitex Agnus Castus Extract ZE 440 in Patients Suffering from Premenstrual Syndrome
- Authors
- Р. Шелленберг, К. Циммерманн, Ю. Древе
- Journal
- Репродуктивное здоровье Восточная Европа
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 440
- What was tested
- Three doses of Vitex agnus castus extract Ze 440 (8, 20, or 30 mg) or placebo daily for 3 menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.34883/pi.2020.10.4.002
Topics
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