While the exact causes of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are unknown, the reported symptoms have remained virtually unchanged for decades. PMS is experienced by women of child-bearing age and symptoms include emotional, physical and psychological disruptions. Here we will evaluate what is happening in the body during a bout of PMS and how you might use vitamins and supplements to ease the severity of the symptoms.

PMS seems to occur when estrogen levels drop. In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen levels slowly rise until about two weeks before menstruation. Then, they sharply fall until menstruation begins. During this two weeks, many women experience anxiety, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, fluid retention, insomnia and depression.

There seems to be a link with the drop in estrogen and production of the mood, appetite and sleep regulating hormone, serotonin. While there is no medical proof that low serotonin levels result in PMS, the symptoms are consistent with low levels of serotonin. Additionally, we know that estrogen keeps serotonin from breaking down and the two normally work together in the body to regulate mood and cognition.

Treatment for PMS revolves around treating the symptoms. Your doctor may recommend drugs for depression, therapy, dietary changes and exercise to ease symptoms. In addition, you may find supplementing with certain vitamins helpful. Talk to your doctor about the proper dosages before you buy vitamins.

Many studies have been done to determine which vitamins and minerals are most helpful in relieving PMS symptoms. There is substantial proof that taking calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C can ease symptoms, each in a different way.

Calcium supplements can relieve all PMS symptoms except fatigue and insomnia. Almost all women that suffer from PMS are calcium deficient. It can take up to three months of supplementing to correct the imbalance, so be patient and take your supplements regularly.

Calcium works in three ways. The nervous system, muscular system and the hormonal systems all require a certain amount of calcium to function properly. When estrogen levels drop, the demand for calcium is increased. The body takes the calcium that it needs from the bones.

The calcium that is taken from bone is very hard for the body to use and it is believed that a lot of the fatigue associated with PMS is attributed to the body’s concentration on processing the bone calcium. Low calcium levels cause muscle cramps and spasms. Nerve impulse transmission is also affected. Additionally, low estrogen levels make the absorption of calcium more difficult.

Vitamin D can also be taken to increase absorption of calcium. Magnesium is also proven to greatly reduce PMS symptoms by working with estrogen to reduce stress, water retention, and relax muscles. Magnesium combined with vitamin B-6 also can relieve anxiety.

Many women suffer heavy menstrual bleeding, which can lead to anemia through iron loss. Vitamin C has a significant impact on iron absorption and can help with fatigue. Heavy bleeding is generally caused by weak and fragile blood vessels. They leak as inflammation increases and can make menstruation more painful, exhausting and even dangerous. Vitamin C taken daily reduces heavy bleeding by strengthening blood vessels and reducing inflammation. If vitamin C is not well tolerated by your stomach, try a buffered vitamin C powder.

Talk with your doctor about treating your PMS with vitamins and supplements before you buy vitamins. It is important to be sure that your symptoms are caused by PMS and not another underlying condition.

About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health with vitamins and supplements. Wholesale Nutrition has the best vitamin C Powder on the market (C-Salts). Visit http://www.nutri.com to buy vitamins or buy supplements of the highest quality.

Tags: buy vitamins, PMS, pms cure, pms vitamins, treating pms, vitamin c powder, vitamins and supplements

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 8:09 am and is filed under PMS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.