Randomised trial, 1991
Does a vitamin and mineral supplement help PMS symptoms?
Possibly, especially at higher doses. The 12-tablet dose helped all four types of PMS symptoms, and the 6-tablet dose helped three types. However, placebo also had significant effects.
What they did
A double-blind study of 44 women with PMS, carefully screened to exclude other physical or psychological conditions. Women completed symptom questionnaires for 1 month as baseline, then were randomly assigned to placebo or 6 or 12 tablets daily of the supplement for 3 menstrual cycles. Symptoms were measured in both the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle.
What they found
All women had significant symptom differences between follicular and luteal phases at baseline. Placebo significantly improved two of four PMS symptom subgroups. The 6-tablet supplement dose significantly improved three subgroups, and the 12-tablet dose significantly improved all four subgroups.
What it means for you
The higher dose of this supplement may help all PMS symptom types, but placebo effects were also strong, making it unclear how much improvement came from the supplement itself versus expectation. The study was relatively small with 44 women.
44
women studied
3
menstrual cycles of treatment
4
PMS symptom subgroups tested
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of a nutritional supplement on premenstrual symptomatology in women with premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind longitudinal study
- Authors
- London RS, Bradley L, Chiamori NY
- Journal
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 44
- What was tested
- Vitamin and mineral supplement at two doses: 6 or 12 tablets daily
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/07315724.1991.10718176
Topics
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