Randomised trial, 2005
Does a low dose of alcohol change allopregnanolone, a brain chemical linked to PMDD?
During the late cycle phase, a small dose of intravenous alcohol decreased allopregnanolone levels in both women with severe PMS and control women, but this did not happen during the early cycle phase. This is moderate evidence, but the study is small and used an unnatural way of giving alcohol.
What they did
Randomized study. 14 women with severe PMS and 12 control women received either a 30-minute intravenous alcohol infusion (0.2 grams per kilogram of body weight) or placebo. This was done twice for each woman: once during the early cycle phase and once during the late cycle phase. Blood samples were taken at baseline and at 25, 55, and 75 minutes after the infusion.
What they found
During the late cycle phase, the alcohol infusion decreased allopregnanolone levels compared to both baseline and placebo at 25 minutes, 55 minutes, and 75 minutes. During the early cycle phase, allopregnanolone levels did not change with alcohol. There was no difference in this response between women with severe PMS and control women.
What it means for you
A small dose of alcohol affects a brain chemical differently depending on where a woman is in her cycle, but this happened in all women, not just those with severe PMS. The study is small and used intravenous alcohol rather than drinking, so how this applies to real life is unclear.
14
women with severe PMS
12
control women
0.2 g/kg
dose of alcohol per kilogram of body weight
About the study
- Original title
- The effect of a low dose of alcohol on allopregnanolone serum concentrations across the menstrual cycle in women with severe premenstrual syndrome and controls
- Authors
- Nyberg S, Andersson A, Zingmark E et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 14
- What was tested
- Intravenous alcohol infusion (0.2 g/kg) versus placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.04.016
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2003
How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD?
Case-control study, 2013
Are stress hormones different in women with PMDD?
Review, 2004
Could a brain hormone called allopregnanolone explain mood problems like PMDD in women?
Randomised trial, 2006
Do women with PMDD and depression process progesterone differently than others?
Cohort study, 2006
Does having depression in the past affect stress hormone responses in women with PMDD?
Non-randomised trial, 2024
Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD?