Non-randomised trial, 2007
Does magnesium supplementation reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes, magnesium supplementation significantly reduced PMS symptoms after 3 months, with symptom scores decreasing by about 35 percent. However, this study had no placebo control, so some improvement could be due to placebo effect.
What they did
41 women aged 18 to 45 with PMS took a modified-release magnesium tablet containing 250 mg for 3 menstrual cycles. Treatment started 20 days after the beginning of their menstrual period and continued until the next period began. They had a 3-month observation period before starting treatment.
What they found
After 3 months, the mean total PMS score was significantly lower than before treatment (p less than 0.0001). Patient diary scores also showed significant improvements (p less than 0.0001 for all subscales). The relative decrease in total PMS scores was 35.1 percent as assessed by the investigator and 33.5 percent as recorded by patients in their diaries. The magnesium was well tolerated. Only one patient reported a treatment-related adverse event, which was vertigo.
What it means for you
Magnesium supplementation appears to reduce PMS symptoms substantially and was well tolerated. However, this was an open-label study where women knew they were receiving magnesium, without a placebo control group. Therefore, some improvement could be due to placebo effect. The results are preliminary and need confirmation in a larger controlled study.
41
women
250 mg
dose of magnesium
35.1%
decrease in PMS scores
About the study
- Original title
- Pilot study of the efficacy and safety of a modified-release magnesium 250 mg tablet (Sincromag) for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Quaranta S, Buscaglia MA, Meroni MG et al.
- Journal
- Clinical drug investigation
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 41
- What was tested
- Modified-release magnesium tablet 250 mg for 3 menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200727010-00004
Topics
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