Deficiency of what substances provokes the development of premenstrual syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome is a complex pathological symptom complex that appears in the days before menstruation. Symptoms usually appear 2-14 days before the onset of menstruation, disappear abruptly in its first days and are manifested by vegetative-vascular, neuropsychic and metabolic-endocrine disorders.

The social significance of premenstrual syndrome is undeniable, since the emotional and physical state of a woman is reflected in the work process, in society and in family life. There is a false opinion that engorgement and pain in the mammary gland before menstruation, mental lability and abdominal pain are the norm. In fact, in a normally functioning organism, the processes that occur before and during menstruation should be absolutely painless.

Why do most women associate menstruation with pain and discomfort in almost the entire body? What's going wrong? Read the theories of the development of premenstrual syndrome in our article.

Theories of the development of premenstrual syndrome

To date, the final mechanism for the development of premenstrual syndrome has not been identified. There are several theories about the onset of symptoms before menstruation.

1. Hormonal theory. This theory explains that premenstrual syndrome appears against the background of absolute or relative hyperestrogenism. Estrogens increase the secretion of angiotensin in the liver. This activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems. As a result, fluid in the intercellular space is delayed. Therefore, edema develops, the mammary glands engorge and hurt. There is flatulence and headache. Estrogens can also affect the limbic system of the cerebral cortex, causing neuropsychiatric symptoms, provoke hypokalemia and hypoglycemia. This is manifested by physical inactivity, severe fatigue and pain in the region of the heart.
2. Theories of water intoxication and hyperadrenocortic activity are close to the hormonal theory, as they explain the pathogenesis of premenstrual syndrome with water retention in the body by an increase in the level of aldosterone and estrogen.
3. The theory of beriberi and deficiency of certain trace elements.

The latter theory reflects many causes of the development of the syndrome and explains the reason for the development of PMS in girls of a certain type.

Which substance deficiency provokes the development of symptoms before menstruation?

Deficiency of certain substances has been found to cause unpleasant symptoms before menstruation and the development of premenstrual syndrome.

• Lack of vitamin B₆ slows down the exchange of estrogens, creating conditions for their accumulation, which provokes the development of symptoms before menstruation. Also, vitamin B₆ is a coenzyme in the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine mediators. With a lack of serotonin, mood and behavior change, with a deficiency of dopamine, the secretion of prolactin increases, which contributes to the symptoms of the mammary glands.
• Magnesium deficiency leads to selective dopamine deficiency. This causes restlessness and irritability before menstruation. Magnesium deficiency also increases the secretion of aldosterone, promotes water and sodium retention in the body. This contributes to the development of symptoms from the cardiovascular system (tachycardia, migraine-like jumps in blood pressure, extrasystole), cerebral symptoms (pressive pain in the head, dizziness, fear, poor concentration, depression), and visceral symptoms (nausea, vomiting, spastic pain) .
• Insufficiency of unsaturated fatty acids leads to a violation of the synthesis of prostaglandins, which contributes to the development of depression, irritability, pain in the mammary gland, an increase in body temperature to subfebrile numbers, pain and bloating, and nervousness before menstruation. The lack of prostaglandins E₁ and E₂is manifested by a violation of progesterone secretion and the development of relative hyperestrogenism. Also, prostaglandins affect the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, enhancing it. Therefore, when they are deficient, water and sodium are retained in the body before menstruation. It is felt with headache, bloating and mastalgia. A lack of prostaglandin E1 and an excess of prostaglandin F2a increase the level of prolactin. The consequence of this may be pain in the mammary gland of a cyclic nature.<

Therefore, the deficiency of vitamins, trace elements and certain substances contributes to the development of premenstrual syndrome in the 2nd stage of the menstrual cycle. This theory explains the reason for the frequent appearance of such symptoms before menstruation in girls with an asthenic constitution and in girls who follow various weight loss diets.

Pre-menstrual symptoms

Depending on the prevalence of symptoms, there are 3 main clinical forms of premenstrual syndrome:

- neuropsychic form - before menstruation, depression, tearfulness, irritability, aggressiveness predominate. Often women turn to psychologists about this, thinking that they have mental health problems.

- edematous form is manifested by swelling of the face, legs, hands, pain and enlargement of the mammary glands, bloating, sweating, weight gain, skin itching. Despite this, in most women with edematous form before menstruation, diuresis does not change, which is associated with the processes of redistribution of fluid in the body.

- cephalgic form - headache of a different nature, pain in the heart, numbness of the hands.

- crisis form - the most severe form that develops against the background of concomitant extragenital pathologies. It proceeds in the form of sympathoadrenal crises. These crises are manifested by an increase in blood pressure, a feeling of squeezing behind the sternum. There is a coldness and numbness of the extremities, palpitations, the release of copious amounts of light urine.

Often crises occur before menstruation in the evening and at night. With this form, the level of prolactin and serotonin increases, as well as hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex in the 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle.

Methods of treating premenstrual syndrome

Therapy for premenstrual syndrome always depends on the severity of the manifestation and on the form. Treatment of premenstrual syndrome includes rational nutrition, psychotherapy, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapeutic methods, the use of herbal decoction with a sedative and antispasmodic effect. Nutrition should contain many vitamins, minerals and fiber. It is necessary to exclude alcohol, limit black tea and coffee, confectionery, moderately consume animal fats, milk and salt.

Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with hormones is prescribed by a doctor only after a thorough examination of the woman.