Case-control study, 2018
How does progesterone affect metabolism differently in women with PMDD?
Progesterone reduces amino acid levels in the blood, and this reduction appears to be different in women with PMDD compared to controls. However, the sample is very small and findings are preliminary.
What they did
Researchers compared blood samples from 12 women with confirmed PMDD and 25 control women under two conditions. First, when their ovaries were suppressed with leuprolide. Second, when progesterone was added back (200 mg twice daily by vaginal suppository). They measured changes in the body's metabolites using mass spectrometry.
What they found
After progesterone was added, 28 out of 36 known compounds (amino acids and their derivatives) were significantly lower in the blood. Tyrosine was nominally significantly decreased after progesterone in controls but not in women with PMDD (P = 0.02).
What it means for you
Differences in how women with PMDD process amino acids when exposed to progesterone could explain why they respond so differently to this hormone. Findings are very preliminary due to the tiny sample size and need to be repeated in larger studies.
12
women with PMDD
25
control women
28 of 36
amino acid compounds decreased with progesterone
About the study
- Original title
- Progesterone and plasma metabolites in women with and in those without premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Di Florio A, Alexander D, Schmidt PJ et al.
- Journal
- Depression and anxiety
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 12
- What was tested
- Progesterone administration following ovarian suppression
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/da.22827
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