Randomised trial, 1987
Does vitamin B6 help premenstrual tension symptoms?
No. Vitamin B6 did not significantly improve PMS symptoms in this small study, even though it increased a blood marker of serotonin activity.
What they did
A double-blind crossover study in which researchers measured platelet serotonin uptake in 19 women with PMS and 19 controls during different menstrual cycle phases, then tested vitamin B6 treatment during the luteal phase.
What they found
Vitamin B6 did not significantly improve PMS symptoms. Vitamin B6 increased Vmax (a serotonin marker) significantly during the luteal phase in both groups (F = 9.6; p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between vitamin B6 and placebo.
What it means for you
A change in the blood serotonin marker did not translate to symptom improvement. This was a very small study with only 19 women with PMS per group, so findings may not apply to all women.
19
women with PMS per group
9.6
F value for Vmax increase
<0.001
p value for increase
About the study
- Original title
- Platelet serotonin uptake and effects of vitamin B6-treatment in premenstrual tension
- Authors
- Malmgren R, Collins A, Nilsson CG
- Journal
- Neuropsychobiology
- Year
- 1987
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 19
- What was tested
- Vitamin B6 treatment in double-blind crossover design
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000118398
Topics
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