Foods Rich in B Vitamins Lower PMS Risk by 25%

AMHERST, Mass.Women who consume a diet of foods rich in thiamine (vitamin B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2) may lower their risk of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by 25 percent, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Thiamine is found naturally in fortified cereals, whole grains, beans and nuts, while riboflavin is found naturally in milk, eggs, meat and green leafy vegetables.

Researchers examined the diets of more than 3,035 women who participated in the Nurses Health Study II cohort. After 10 years of follow up, 1,057 women were confirmed with moderate to severe PMS such as anxiety, depression, irritability, abdominal pain, fatigue and bloating. Dietary information was collected in 1991, 1995 and 1999 by using food-frequency questionnaires.

Intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources were each inversely associated with incident PMS. For example, women in the highest quintile of riboflavin intake two to four years before the diagnosis year had a 35-percent lower risk of developing PMS than did those in the lowest. No significant associations between incident PMS and dietary intakes of niacin, vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 were observed. Intake of B vitamins from supplements was not associated with a lower risk of PMS.