Comparative study of vitamin B6 versus placebo in premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a psycho-somatic disturbance that occurs during luteal phase. It is estimated that approximately 75% of women experience recurrent physical and psychological symptoms of PMS.The exact cause of this syndrome remains unclear and different methods such as vitamin consumption have been used to cure this syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of vitamin B6 on premenstrual syndrome. This study was a randomized double blind placebo-controlled study. 92 patients were enrolled into this study and divided into two groups by simple random sampling. Experimental group with 52 subjects receiving 200mg vitB6/daily (five 40mg/day tablets during the whole length of menstrual cycle) and control group with 40 subjects taking 5 starch tablets/day likewise at the same period. Assessment of the symptoms of PMS was performed according to the COPE scale. Data analysis was done by means of X2 and Fisher`s exact statistic tests. The findings of this study showed that vitB6 (200mg/daily) was clinically effective in depression, anxiety, sleepiness (psychological symptoms) and breast tenderness, weight gaining (somatic symptoms) (p<0.05). Placebo also reduced severity of the symptoms but vitamin B6 was superior to the placebo in reducing the symptoms of PMS (p>0.05).The mean age of the subjects in the experimental group was 24.5 and in the control group was 23. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups in relation to mean age, course and field of study. According to the results of this study daily use of vitB6 during menstrual cycle can control PMS symptoms but one must be cautious with high doses of this medicine.