Phospholipid formulation found to relieve PMS

A newly released clinical study has indicated the positive effects of Lipogen PMS, a natural phospholipid formulation, in treating and relieving premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms.

PMS defines the physical and/or emotional symptoms that occur one to two weeks before a woman’s period, and is experienced by 20–30% of women of child-bearing age experience according to the American Family Physician Journal. Credence Research has reported that the global PMS treatment market was valued at US$4.2 billion in 2015, and is expected to reach US$5 billion by 2024.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was directed by Dr Juliane Hellhammer, the CEO of German contract research organisation (CRO) daacro. Published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, the research evaluated 40 women aged 18–45 who were diagnosed with PMS by their physicians.

The study observed women during an initial baseline menstrual cycle followed by three menstrual cycles in which subjects received daily treatment of the Lipogen PMS complex of 400 mg phosphatidylserine (PS) and 400 mg phosphatidic acid (PA). The product is developed by nutritional supplement provider Lipogen and has earned both US FDA GRAS status and EU EFSA Novel Food approval.

The Lipogen PMS treatment group experienced an ongoing reduction in premenstrual syndrome symptoms, while the placebo group returned to initial PMS-symptom levels. Using the standardised DRSP (Daily Record of Severity of Problems) scale, the study showed Lipogen PMS improved symptoms in the four primary measures:

1. Emotional relief: Lipogen PMS demonstrated relief from emotional responses, reducing depression and levelling out mood swings.
2. Physical relief: Women taking Lipogen PMS experienced reduced physical symptoms, such as lowered fatigue, decreased bloating, fewer appetite disturbances and fewer sleep problems. The level of their stress hormone, cortisol, also decreased.
3. Cognitive relief: Lipogen PMS lowered the impact of PMS on productivity.
4. Social relief: PMS sufferers who took Lipogen PMS experienced less interference in relationships.

“I am quite impressed that a natural, non-pharmaceutical product has promising potential for relieving women’s PMS symptoms,” Dr Hellhammer said.

Lipogen is currently considering further developing the product as a botanical drug.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Sandor Kacso