Prevailing Over PMS

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a difficult condition to manage because it is not yet well understood, and there is such great variability in the symptoms. The more common symptoms include pain, depression, irritability, confusion, anger, and a craving for carbohydrates. Women can take prescription drugs or over-the-counter remedies to ease the discomfort of PMS, but there is a safer and more natural alternative.

Research indicates that brewers' yeast, magnesium and vitamin B6 are beneficial for some of the symptoms of PMS, so Italian researchers decided to put all three nutrients together to see how a combined approach would work. In their double-blind study, 40 women with mild to moderate PMS were given either the combination supplement, or a placebo, over six menstrual cycles. By the end of the study, the women taking the supplement had an 80% reduction in symptoms.

The supplement used for the study contained 1.5 mg. of vitamin B6, 400 mg. of magnesium, 0.2 mg. of folic acid, 12 mg. of vitamin E, 4 mg. of copper, 20 mg. of iron, and one gram of brewers' yeast.

Based on information in: Vitamin Retailer, June 1997