--- title: Do women with PMS respond differently to tryptophan than women without PMS? description: Yes. Women with PMS showed a reduced response when given tryptophan in the days before their period, and they had higher baseline stress hormone (cortisol) le url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neuroendocrine-response-to-an-intravenous-l-tryptophan-challenge-in-women-with-2000/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS respond differently to tryptophan than women without PMS? Case-control study, 2000 # Do women with PMS respond differently to tryptophan than women without PMS? Yes. Women with PMS showed a reduced response when given tryptophan in the days before their period, and they had higher baseline stress hormone (cortisol) levels. Early or limited evidence 5 women with prospectively documented PMS and 5 healthy control women, age and body mass matched ## What they did Five women with documented PMS and five healthy women of similar age and body weight received an intravenous dose of L-tryptophan twice a week for one month. Blood levels of serotonin, cortisol, and prolactin were measured at baseline and at multiple time points (30, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 minutes after injection). ## What they found In women with PMS, the serotonin response to tryptophan was blunted (reduced) in the luteal phase (days before the period) compared with healthy women. Women with PMS also had higher baseline cortisol levels during the luteal phase. Prolactin levels did not differ between groups. ## What it means for you This very small study suggests that women with PMS may have differences in how their bodies handle tryptophan (which is used to make serotonin) in the second half of the menstrual cycle. The findings support other research on tryptophan handling in PMS. However, the study had only 5 women per group, so results need confirmation in larger studies. 5 Women with PMS tested 5 Healthy control women 1 month Study duration ## About the study Original title Neuroendocrine response to an intravenous L-tryptophan challenge in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Rasgon N, McGuire M, Tanavoli S et al. Journal Fertility and sterility Year 2000 Study design Case-control study What was tested Intravenous L-tryptophan challenge Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00452-5](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00452-5) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2026 Does mindfulness training reduce PMS symptoms and fear about childbirth? Systematic review, 2025 Is there a link between stress, trauma, and premenstrual symptoms? Randomised trial, 2025 Does caloric restriction and aerobic exercise improve PMS symptoms in obese women? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Review, 2025 How do stress hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle and how does this affect health? Randomised trial, 2024 Does curcumin reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in women with PMS and dysmenorrhea? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗