---
title: Do women with PMS have different tryptophan levels? | Niyora
description: No. Women with PMS had similar tryptophan levels compared to women without PMS, both before and after ovulation. This suggests that low tryptophan is not the
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/tryptophan-and-neutral-amino-acids-in-premenstrual-syndrome-1991/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do women with PMS have different tryptophan levels?

Study, 1991

# Do women with PMS have different tryptophan levels?

No. Women with PMS had similar tryptophan levels compared to women without PMS, both before and after ovulation. This suggests that low tryptophan is not the reason for PMS.

 Moderate study design

Women with PMS and women without PMS (control group)

## What they did

Researchers measured the ratio of tryptophan (an amino acid that affects serotonin and mood) to other amino acids in blood from women with PMS and women without PMS. They compared levels at different times in the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

There were no clear differences between women with PMS and the control group, and no differences across different times of the cycle.

## What it means for you

Some researchers thought low serotonin from low tryptophan might cause PMS, but this study suggests that is not the cause. Something else must explain the serotonin problems in PMS. The sample size is not stated in the abstract, which is a limitation.

5

competing amino acids measured alongside tryptophan

## About the study

Original title Tryptophan and neutral amino acids in premenstrual syndrome Authors Rapkin AJ, Reading AE, Woo S et al. Journal American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 1991 Study design Study What was tested None - measurement study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(91)90040-x](https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(91)90040-x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗