Alleviate PMS Symptoms
Pharmaceuticals have always been used in managing this condition, but now researchers have discovered certain vitamins and minerals can offer excellent results in alleviating symptoms of PMS.
B6
According to a clinical test conducted on 900 women with PMS, British researchers
report taking up to 100 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily may be effective
in relieving the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), including depression.
However, researchers felt the need to do a large scale trial on the effects
of vitamin B6 on PMS before a definitive clinical recommendation is made.
British Medical Journal 1999;318:1375-1381.
Magnesium
Studies show that magnesium deficiency usually occurring before menstruation
leads to premenstrual syndrome. Magnesium-rich foods such as nuts, fish,
and green leafy vegetables help to reduce PMS symptoms. (Men, a dozen
roses wouldn't hurt either.)
Journal of the American Dietetic Association,1999;99:1249-1256.
Pregnancy (nausea/vomiting)
Until recent studies were conducted in nutrition, nothing was thought to
help alleviate this first trimester condition. Studies show that vitamin
B6, either from a multivitamin or individual B6 supplement, may help
reduce the number of vomiting and nausea episodes during the first 6 weeks
of pregnancy. It was discovered that in a group of 555 women seeking advice
for early pregnancy vomiting and nausea, those experiencing the highest
frequency and most severe episodes also reported a lack of multivitamin
supplementation.1
In a randomized, double-blind clinical study conducted
in China, women given vitamin B6 for a period of 5 days experienced a significant
decrease in nausea and vomiting compared to the placebo group.2
1 Clin Invest Med 1999 Jun;22(3):106-110
2 Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995 Sep;173(3 Pt 1):881-4
SOURCE: Foods for the Future (Foods for the Future provides factual information to the media concerning food products, health and nutrition. It is a project of the T. Dean Reed Company and is supported by U.S. agribusiness.)