Randomised trial, 1983
Which nutritional supplements help treat premenstrual syndrome?
Vitamin B6 at 40-100 mg twice daily is widely used for PMS, especially in milder cases. Evening primrose oil at 2-3 g per day shows encouraging early results. Other nutritional approaches may help but are unlikely to provide complete relief alone.
What they did
This is a review paper that examined non-drug nutritional approaches to treating PMS, including their doses and how they work.
What they found
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) at 40-100 mg twice daily is widely used to treat PMS in less severe cases. Evening primrose oil at 2-3 g per day (the source of gamma-linolenic acid) has shown encouraging preliminary results, though a double-blind placebo-controlled study was still in progress. Some evidence suggests allergies may worsen premenstrually, so avoiding trigger substances may help.
What it means for you
Vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil are potential non-drug treatments for PMS, but evidence is still limited and more research is needed. Nutritional approaches alone are unlikely to provide complete relief, especially for severe PMS.
40-100 mg
Vitamin B6 dose, twice daily
2-3 g
Evening primrose oil per day
About the study
- Original title
- Nutritional Approaches to the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome
- Authors
- M. G. Brush
- Journal
- Nutrition and Health
- Year
- 1983
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Vitamin B6 at 40-100 mg twice daily and evening primrose oil at 2-3 g per day
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/026010608300200410
Topics
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