Randomised trial, 1993
Do women with PMS have different hormone and chemical levels, and do essential fatty acids change them?
Hormone and chemical levels were mostly the same in PMS and healthy women, except aldosterone was lower and cholesterol higher in PMS. Essential fatty acids did not change any of these levels.
What they did
Women with PMS and symptom-free controls were compared for hormonal and biochemical measures (hormones, glucose, minerals, cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein, magnesium, calcium) in both menstrual cycle phases. Effects of essential fatty acids were evaluated in a randomized double-blind crossover design.
What they found
Hormonal and biochemical profiles were markedly similar between PMS and control women except for aldosterone (lower in both cycle phases in PMS women) and cholesterol (higher in the follicular phase in PMS women). Treatment with essential fatty acids had no effects on any biochemical variables studied.
What it means for you
PMS does not appear to have obvious hormone or chemical imbalances unlike some other conditions. Combined with the previous study, essential fatty acids did not help with either symptoms or blood chemistry. Sample size was not reported in the abstract, limiting confidence in the results.
2
groups studied (PMS and controls)
2
menstrual cycle phases compared
2
biochemical measures that differed
About the study
- Original title
- Hormonal and biochemical profiles of premenstrual syndrome. Treatment with essential fatty acids
- Authors
- Cerin A, Collins A, Landgren BM et al.
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 1993
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Essential fatty acids versus placebo in randomized double-blind crossover
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/00016349309021108
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