Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome:systematic review
BMJ 1999; 318 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7195.1375 (Published 22 May 1999) Cite this as: BMJ 1999;318:1375
- Katrina M Wyatt, non-clinical lecturer in reproductive endocrinology (mea10{at}keele.ac.uk)a,
- Paul W Dimmock, researchera,
- Peter W Jones, professorb,
- P M Shaughn O'Brien, professora
- aAcademic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Staffordshire Hospital, Stoke on Trent ST4 6QG
- bDepartment of Mathematics, Keele University, Keele ST5 5BG
- Correspondence to: Dr Wyatt
- Accepted 11 March 1999
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
Design: Systematic review of published and unpublished randomised placebo controlled trials of the effectiveness of vitamin B-6 in the management of premenstrual syndrome.
Subjects: Nine published trials representing 940 patients with premenstrual syndrome.
Main outcome measures: Proportion of women whose overall premenstrual symptoms showed an improvement over placebo. A secondary analysis was performed on the proportion of women whose premenstrual depressive symptoms showed an improvement over placebo.
Results: Odds ratio relative to placebo for an improvement in overall premenstrual symptoms was 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.95 to 2.54). Odds ratio relative to placebo for an improvement in depressive symptoms was 1.69 (1.39 to 2.06) from four trials representing 541 patients.
Conclusion: Conclusions are limited by the low quality of most of the trials included. Results suggest that doses of vitamin B-6 up to 100 mg/day are likely to be of benefit in treating premenstrual symptoms and premenstrual depression.
Footnotes
- Accepted 11 March 1999