Study, 1991
Do women with premenstrual syndrome have lower vitamin B6 levels?
No clear difference was found between women with PMS and women without PMS. However, the sample was very small, so some women with PMS might have low B6 that this study could not detect.
What they did
Ten women with PMS and ten women without PMS had blood drawn every 2 to 3 days for three menstrual cycles. Vitamin B6 was measured using a chemical test, and luteinizing hormone was also measured.
What they found
In women without PMS, vitamin B6 averaged 15.3 during the luteal phase and 14.2 during the follicular phase, with no clear difference between phases. In women with PMS, levels averaged 14.7 during the luteal phase and 15.4 during the follicular phase, also with no clear difference between phases. There was no clear difference in vitamin B6 between the PMS and non-PMS groups in either phase.
What it means for you
Vitamin B6 deficiency does not appear to be a widespread cause of PMS based on this study. However, the sample was very small, so larger studies would be needed to rule out B6 deficiency in some women with PMS.
10
Women with PMS studied
10
Women without PMS studied
3
Menstrual cycles followed
About the study
- Original title
- Vitamin B6levels in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- C. J. Chuong, Earl B. Dawson, E. R. Smith
- Journal
- Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674829109077997
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2025
Do nutritional interventions help with emotional symptoms of PMS?
Systematic review, 2013
Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?
Review, 2011
What are PMS and PMDD, and how common are they?
Systematic review, 2009
Which herbs, vitamins and minerals help treat PMS?
Systematic review, 2007
What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?
Randomised trial, 2003
What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues?