Randomised trial, 1984
Does vitamin E help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Yes. Vitamin E significantly improved symptoms in three of the four classes of PMS, though it did not change hormone levels directly.
What they did
A randomized, double-blind, dose-response study where women received vitamin E or placebo and were assessed for both PMS symptoms and changes in hormone levels.
What they found
Vitamin E significantly improved symptoms in three of the four classes of PMS. It had no significant effect on testosterone, DHEA-S, estradiol, or progesterone levels. A significant correlation emerged between temporal changes in one PMS category and changes in DHEA-S concentrations, independent of treatment.
What it means for you
Vitamin E may help some types of PMS symptoms. The improvement may work through androgens rather than directly changing major hormones. The abstract does not specify sample size, treatment duration, or which symptom classes improved.
3 of 4
classes of PMS improved
About the study
- Original title
- The effect of alpha-tocopherol on premenstrual symptomatology: a double-blind study. II. Endocrine correlates
- Authors
- London RS, Sundaram G, Manimekalai S et al.
- Journal
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
- Year
- 1984
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Alpha-tocopherol at different doses or placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/07315724.1984.10720059
Topics
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