Case-control study, 1990
Do women with premenstrual syndrome have lower vitamin E levels?
No. Vitamin E levels were the same in patients with and without premenstrual syndrome in both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
What they did
Measured blood vitamin E levels in 10 patients with premenstrual syndrome and 10 control subjects every 2 or 3 days throughout three complete menstrual cycles.
What they found
In the control group, vitamin E was 854 +/- 45 micrograms/dl during the luteal phase and 925 +/- 55 micrograms/dl during the follicular phase, with no significant difference between phases. In patients with premenstrual syndrome, vitamin E was 849 +/- 53 micrograms/dl during the luteal phase and 858 +/- 48 micrograms/dl during the follicular phase. No significant differences were found between the control group and patients with premenstrual syndrome in either phase. Vitamin E deficiency was not shown in patients with premenstrual syndrome.
What it means for you
Low vitamin E is not the cause of PMS. The main limit is the very small sample size of only 10 patients per group, which may not represent all patients with PMS.
854 +/- 45
control vitamin E, luteal phase (micrograms/dl)
925 +/- 55
control vitamin E, follicular phase (micrograms/dl)
849 +/- 53
PMS vitamin E, luteal phase (micrograms/dl)
About the study
- Original title
- Vitamin E levels in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Chuong CJ, Dawson EB, Smith ER
- Journal
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 10
- What was tested
- Blood vitamin E levels were measured (not a treatment test)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(90)90633-i
Topics
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