---
title: Do women with PMS have vitamin or mineral deficiencies? | Niyora
description: No. The study found no difference in vitamin and mineral levels between women with PMS and healthy women, so deficiencies probably do not cause PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/vitamin-and-trace-element-status-in-premenstrual-syndrome-1988/
---

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- Do women with PMS have vitamin or mineral deficiencies?

Case-control study, 1988

# Do women with PMS have vitamin or mineral deficiencies?

No. The study found no difference in vitamin and mineral levels between women with PMS and healthy women, so deficiencies probably do not cause PMS.

 Moderate study design

38 women with PMS and 23 control women

## What they did

Researchers measured blood levels of magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, and B vitamins in 38 women with PMS and 23 healthy women. They collected blood samples at two times: during the premenstrual phase and during the early part of the cycle.

## What they found

There was no evidence that women with PMS had lower levels of any of the vitamins and minerals tested compared to healthy women.

## What it means for you

Nutritional deficiencies are probably not the main cause of PMS. However, this is a relatively small study, so it does not completely rule out that nutritional supplements might help some women.

38

women with PMS

23

control women

5

nutrients measured

## About the study

Original title Vitamin and trace element status in premenstrual syndrome Authors Mira M, Stewart PM, Abraham SF Journal The American journal of clinical nutrition Year 1988 Study design Case-control study Participants 38 What was tested none Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/47.4.636](https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/47.4.636)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Magnesium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-magnesium/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Vitamin E](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-e/)[Zinc and iron](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-zinc-iron/)

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.

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