---
title: Are appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin different in women with PMS?
description: Leptin levels were higher in women with PMS before their period, but ghrelin showed no difference. The meaning is unclear because these hormones normally work
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/in-contrast-to-leptin-serum-concentrations-of-ghrelin-are-not-related-to-2014/
---

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- Are appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin different in women with PMS?

Case-control study, 2014

# Are appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin different in women with PMS?

Leptin levels were higher in women with PMS before their period, but ghrelin showed no difference. The meaning is unclear because these hormones normally work together to control hunger.

 Early or limited evidence

45 women with PMS and 45 healthy women, matched for age, body mass index, and menstrual cycle length

## What they did

A case-control study comparing 45 women with PMS and 45 healthy control women matched for age, body mass index, and menstrual cycle length. Researchers measured blood levels of leptin and ghrelin twice in each woman: once in the postmenstrual phase (days 5-9) and once 2-3 days before menstruation.

## What they found

In the PMS group, leptin was 31.05 (±14.16) ng/ml during the premenstrual period and 16.42 (±15.81) ng/ml during the postmenstrual period, a statistically significant difference. Ghrelin was 6.9 (±9.3) ng/ml in the PMS group and 8.8 (±9.3) ng/ml in controls, with no significant difference (p=0.79).

## What it means for you

Leptin may play a role in PMS, but ghrelin does not. This is puzzling because these two hormones normally work together to regulate hunger and body weight. The connection between these hormones and PMS remains unclear. This was a small observational study.

45

participants per group

31.05

leptin ng/ml premenstrual (PMS)

16.42

leptin ng/ml postmenstrual (PMS)

## About the study

Original title In contrast to leptin, serum concentrations of ghrelin are not related to premenstrual syndrome Authors Unlu BS, Koken G, Celik F et al. Journal European review for medical and pharmacological sciences Year 2014 Study design Case-control study Participants 45 What was tested None; hormone levels were measured but not changed Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25392096/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25392096/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)

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