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Research Article

Pre-menstrual Syndrome and Diet

Pages 65-75 | Published online: 13 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to collate and evaluate critically recent reports on the effect of diet and nutritional supplements on the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Evidence is provided of a poor dietary intake and vitamin and mineral deficiencies in subjects with PMS. The review explains 'the four-phase dietary treatment for PMS' used at the University College London Hospital's PMS Clinic, and the author's own experience derived from seeing many PMS patients over 6 years is briefly presented. From the available evidence, it appears that the diet advocated in the Health of the Nation document is also the best approach to treating PMS. As regards supplements, there is certainly evidence that magnesium and vitamin B are helpful to some women. Evening primrose oil 6 seems most effective when used to treat mastalgia. Evidence is emerging that calcium supplementation may also lessen some PMS symptoms. Beneficial effects are usually noticed only after following specific dietary advice for 3-4 months. This may cause some sufferers to lose patience with the dietary approach. Nutritional guidelines should be advocated as the first-line approach for PMS. It is cheap, effective and puts the woman in control of her own treatment. Evidence is accumulating for the role of neurotransmitters in PMS. It is known that diet can affect neurotransmitter metabolism but more research needs to be focused on this area.

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