Table 1.
The features of the published RCTs on nutritional supplements and herbal medicines.
| Authors | Study Design | Interven. | Control | Part. | Age (y) |
Tools | Route of Admin., Durat. and Dosage | Durat. of Interven. (Cycles) | Result | Adv. Event | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozgoli et al. (2009) | Single blind | Gingko biloba L. tablet | Placebo | 90 | 18–30 | PSST | One tablet (containing 40 mg leaf extracts) three times per day from the 16th day of the menstrual cycle to the 5th day of the next cycle | 2 | Severity of symptoms reduced significantly | Reported (Nausea and excessive sleep in intervention group) | [7] |
| Abdollahifard et al. (2014) | Double Blind |
B1 (Thiamine) | Placebo (Starch powder) | 80 | 18–30 | DSR | Two pills of Vit B1 (each pill contains 100 mg) twice daily | 3 | Reduces mental and physical symptoms | Reported (No side effects) |
[43] |
| Sharifi et al. (2014) | Double blind |
M. chamomile extract |
Mefenamic acid 250 mg TID | 90 | 18–35 | DSR | 100 mg capsules thrice daily from the 21st day until the next onset of menstruation period, three times daily for two cycles | 2 | Chamomile is more effective in relieving symptoms | Reported (Excessive bleeding in intervention group and GI complication in MA group) | [44] |
| Khayat et al. (2014) | Double blind | Z. officinale capsules | Placebo | 70 | 18–35 | PSST | Two capsules 250 mg/12 h (7 days) before menstruation to three days after menstruation | 3 | Reduction in mood, physical, and behavioural symptoms | Reported (Complaint of nausea in the intervention group) | [45] |
| Hafeeza et al. (2014) | Single blind |
V. agnus castus seed and Mentha piperita Linndistillate (Arq Pudina) 72 mL |
Placebo | 60 | 13–40 | PMTS-SR, PMTS-O | V. agnus castus seed 1 g and M. piperita distillate 36 mL were administered orally twice daily, 10 days before menstruation in every cycle | 3 | Significant reduction in PMTS score in the intervention group | Not reported | [46] |
| Akbarzadeh et al. (2015) | Double blind | Melissa. officinalis Linn (Badranjboya) essence capsules | Placebo (starch) | 100 | - | PSST | 2 capsules (1200 mg) daily from the first to the last day of their menstrualcycle | 3 | Effective in reduction of symptoms | Not reported | [47] |
| Ataollahi et al. (2015) | Triple blind |
Triticum aestivum Linn (Wheat germ) extract |
Placebo | 100 | 20–45 | DSR | I capsule (400 mg), three times per day between the 16th day of the menstrual cycle to the 5th day of the next menstrual period | 2 | Wheat germ significantly reduced physical (63.56%), psychological (66.30%), and the general score (64.99% | Reported (No side effects) |
[48] |
| Khayat et al. (2015) | Double Blind |
Curcumin from Curcuma longa Linn (haldi) | Placebo (brown sugar) | 70 | - | PSST | Two capsules (100 mg) BID daily for seven days before menstruation and three days after menstruation | 3 | Reduction in symptoms | Reported (No side effects) |
[49] |
| Saki et al. (2015) | Triple blind |
Oenothera biennis Linn (Primrose) oil |
Placebo (n = 40) | 80 | 18–30 | PSST | 3 capsules (1500 mg) TID per day | 3 | Significant relief in symptoms | Not reported | [50] |
| Fanaei et al. (2016) | Double blind | Curcumin capsules | Placebo (Brown sugar) | 70 | - | DSR Fasting Serum BDNF level |
1 capsule of 100 mg/12 h was given for 10 days (in each menstrual cycle 7 days before and 3 days after onset of menstrual bleeding) | 3 | Significant relief in symptoms and increased level of BDNF in the intervention group | Not reported | [51] |
| Malik et al. (2018) | Single blind | Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC. (jatamansi) capsules | Placebo (Roasted wheat flour) | 60 | 18–45 | PMTS-O, PMTS-SR | 3 capsules orally, BD for the 15 days before the expected date of menstruation, up until the onset of the next menstrual cycle | 2 | PTMS and VAS scores were significantly reduced in the intervention group | Reported (No side effects) |
[52] |
| Heidari et al. (2019) | Double blind |
50,000 IU of vitamin D3 | Placebo pearl fortnightly | 44 | 18–25 | PMS Daily Symptoms Rating form | 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 for fortnightly | 4 | Significant improvement in 25(OH) D, serum IL-12, and TAC levels. | Reported (No side effects) |
[53] |
| Farahmand et al. (2020) | Double blind | Flowers of Echium amoenum Fisch. & C A Mey (Gole gauzaban) |
Placebo | 84 | 20–35 | PSST | Capsules 450 mg of TID from the 21st day to the 3rd day of their next cycle | 2 | Improve PMS symptoms | Reported (No side effects) |
[54] |
| Farahmand et al. (2021) | Double blind | P. anisum seed | Placebo (starch) | 84 | 18–35 | PSST | 110 mg capsules of Anise three times per day started 7 days before the start of the menstruation and continued until 3 days after menses | 2 | Significant relief of symptoms | Reported (No side effects) |
[55] |
| Jafari et al. (2021) | Double blind |
Allium sativum Linn (lahsun) tablet (1.1 mg allicin) |
Placebo (Starch tablet) | 129 | 15–49 | PSST | One tablet (400 mg) daily | 3 | Significant reduction in symptoms | Reported (Mild complaints) | [5] |
DSR: Daily Symptom Report; DRSP-Q: Daily Record of Severity of Problem Questionnaire; PMTS-O: Premenstrual Tension Observer Questionnaire; PMTS-SR: Premenstrual Tension Self-Rating Questionnaire; PSST: Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool Questionnaire.