Randomised trial, 2011
Does fennel extract reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes. Women taking fennel extract had significantly lower PMS symptom scores compared to placebo.
What they did
Single-blind randomized trial with 60 university students with PMS in Iran. They were randomly assigned to fennel extract or placebo. PMS severity was measured for 2 cycles before treatment, then compared with treatment cycles. Symptoms were measured using the DRSP questionnaire.
What they found
Before treatment, both groups had similar symptom scores (fennel 100.38±33.43, placebo 104.30±19.50). After treatment, the fennel group had significantly lower scores (64.40±29.3) compared to placebo (79.10±28.11, p=0.01).
What it means for you
Fennel extract appears to reduce PMS symptoms. The study was single-blind (only participants did not know which group they were in, not researchers), which is weaker than double-blind. Results only apply to Iranian university students, so they may not generalize to other populations.
60
women in the study
64.40
fennel group symptom score after treatment
79.10
placebo group symptom score after treatment
About the study
- Original title
- بررسی تأثیرعصاره گیاه رازیانه بر علايم سندروم پیش از قاعدگی
- Authors
- M Delaram, Jafari Farkhonde
- Journal
- مجله دانش و تندرستي در علوم پایه پزشکی
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Fennel extract versus placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.22100/jkh.v6i1.87
Topics
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