Efficacy of Vitamin B6 in the Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Many etiological factors have been proposed for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PDD) and different drugs and techniques have been suggested for its treatment. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of vitamin B6 in the treatment of PDD. In a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study, 121 Women, aged 20-45 years, who according to DSM-4 criteria, had PDD were randomly divided into two groups to receive orally either vitamin B6 (group A) 40 mg twice daily during luteal phase of their menstrual cycle or starch as placebo. Vitamin B6 and starch both were prepared in gelatin capsules with the same shape and color. Emotional and somatic scores for the severity of PDD symptoms were determined and compared between the two groups. Emotional score decreased significantly in group A compared to group B and basal value. No changes in somatic scores were observed. It seems that vitamin B6 is an effective drug for relief of emotional symptoms in PDD.