A comparison between Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and a placebo for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

A double blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 160 university students who were suffering from PMS (according to the retrospective diagnostic criteria which had been recorded during the last 3 menstrual cycles). Then the patients were randomly assigned into two groups, and finally 94 patients who had finished the study were statistically analyzed.

In the Pyridoxine group (46 patients) vitamin B6 was prescribed at a dose of 40 mg twice daily (total 80 mg), and in the placebo group (48 patients) a tablet similar to vitamin B6 tablets in size, smell, shape and taste was prescribed 1 tablet twice daily. In both groups the tablets were started from the first day of the fourth menstrual cycle and continued for the next two cycles, and during these two cycles the symptoms were recorded.

The severity of PMS in the second cycle of the treatment (in both groups) showed a statistically significant decrease (p <0.05, Pair T test) and the comparison between the two groups showed that the severity of PMS in the Pyridoxine group decreased more than the placebo group (p < 0.05, Student T Test) and this was because of the reduction in the psychiatric rather than somatic symptoms of PMS.

Regarding the effect of Pyridoxine in reducing the severity of PMS, it can be suggested as a treatment for PMS, at least for the psychiatric symptoms.