Medical Hypotheses
Volume 58, Issue 3 , Pages 213-220 , March 2002

Unexpected benefit of sorbitol placebo in Mg intervention study of premenstrual symptoms: implications for choice of placebo in RCTs

  • A.F. Walker

      Affiliations

    • Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, UK
  • ,
  • M.C. De Souza

      Affiliations

    • Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, UK
    • Universidade Metodista de Piracicabo, Säo Paulo, Brazil
  • ,
  • G. Marakis

      Affiliations

    • Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, UK
  • ,
  • P.A. Robinson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Berkshire Hospital, UK
  • ,
  • A.P. Morris

      Affiliations

    • Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading, UK
  • ,
  • K.M. Bolland

      Affiliations

    • Medical and Pharmaceutical Statistics Research Unit, University of Reading, UK

Received 25 June 1999 ,Accepted 20 March 2001.

References 

  1. Ricci JV. The Genealogy of Gynaecology. Philadelphia: Blakiston; 1950;
  2. Frances A, Pincus HA, First MB. DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington: American Psychiatric Association; 1995; p. 733–736
  3. Belmaker RH, Murphy DL, Wyatt RJ, Loriaux DL. Human platelet monoamine oxidase changes during the menstrual cycle. Arch Gen Psychiat. 1974;31:553–556
  4. Backstrom T. Neuroendocrinology of premenstrual syndrome. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1992;35:612–628
  5. Rapkin A. J. Premenstrual syndrome. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1992;35:585–586
  6. Abraham G. E. Magnesium deficiency in premenstrual tension. Magnesium Bulletin. 1982;1:68–73
  7. Sealey JE, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Rubattu S. Estradiol and progesterone-related increased in the renin-aldosterone system: studies during ovarian stimulation and early pregnancy. J Clini Endocrinol Metab. 1994;79:258–264
  8. Halbreich U, Ben-David M, Assael M, Bornstein R. Serum prolactin in women with premenstrual syndrome. Lancet. 1976;ii:654–655
  9. Janowsky DS, Berens SC, Davis JM. Correlations between mood, weight and electrolytes during the menstrual cycle: a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone hypothesis of premenstrual tension. Psychosom Med. 1973;35:143–154
  10. Chuong CJ, Hsi BP, Gibbons WE. Periovulatory beta-endorphin levels in premenstrual syndrome. Obstet Gynecol. 1994;83:755–760
  11. Piesse J. W. Nutrition factors in the premenstrual syndrome. Int Clin Nutr Rev. 1984;4:54–81
  12. Fachinetti F, Borella P, Sances G, Fioroni L, Nappi RE. Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes. Ame Coll Obstet Gynecol. 1991;78:177–181
  13. Walker AF, De S, Vickers MF, Abeyasekera S, Collins ML, Trinca LA. Magnesium supplementation alleviates premenstrual symptoms of water-retention. J Women's Health. 1998;7:1157–1165
  14. De Souza MC, Walker AF, Robinson P, Bolland K. A synergistic effect of a daily supplement for one month of 200mg magnesium plus 50mg vitamin B6 for the relief of anxiety-related premenstrual symptoms: a randomised, double-blind crossover study. J Women's Health Gend Based Med. 2000;9:131–139
  15. O'Brien PMS. Premenstrual Syndrome. London: Blackwell Scientific; 1987;
  16. Magos A. Advances in the treatment of the premenstrual syndrome. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1990;97:7–10
  17. Greene DA, Lattimer SA, Sima AAF. Sorbitol, phosphoinositides, and sodium-potassium-ATPase in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. N Engl J Med. 1981;316:599–605
  18. Greene DA, Lattimer SA, Sima AAF. Perspectives in diabetes: are disturbances of sorbitol, phosphoinositide, and Na+-K+-ATPase regulation involved in pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy?. Diabetes. 1998;37:688–693
  19. Brody H. Placebos and the Philosophy of Medicine. Clinical, conceptual, and ethical issues. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1980;
  20. Ernst E, Resch KL. Concept of true and perceived placebo effects. Br Med J. 1995;311:551–553
  21. de Crain AJM, Kaptchuk TJ, Tijssen JGP, Kleijnen J. Placebos and placebo effects in medicine: historical overview. J Roy Soc Med. 1999;92:511–515
  22. Bennett PP. Placebo and healing. In:  Pizzorno JE,  Murray MT editor. Textbook of Natural Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1999;p. 51–71
  23. Pizzorno, J. E. Murray, M. T. Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd Edn, Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone
  24. Marakis G, Walker AF. Glucose homeostasis and mineral nutrition. Br Nutr Found Nutr Bull. 1999;24:74–80
  25. Toft I, Bonaa KH, Ingebretsen OC, Nordoy A, Jenssen T. Fibrinolytic function after dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1997;17:814–819
  26. Raastad T, Hostmark AT, Stromme SB. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does not improve maximal aerobic power, anaerobic threshold and running performance in well-trained soccer players. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1997;7:25–31
  27. Toft I, Bonaa KH, Ingebretsen OC, Nordoy A, Jenssen T. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on glucose homeostasis and blood pressure in essential hypertension. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1995;123:911–918
  28. Kremer JM, Lawrence DA, Petrillo GF. Effects of high-dose fish oil on rheumatoid arthritis after stopping nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: clinical and immune correlates. Arthritis Rheum. 1995;38:1107–1114
  29. Araujo M. S. Does the choice of placebo determine the results of clinical studies on acupuncture? A meta-analysis of 100 clinical trials. Forschende Komplement Armedizin. 1998;5:8–11
  30. Bensoussan A, Talley NJ, Hung M, Menzies R, Guo A, Ngu M. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine: a randomised controlled trial. J Am Med Assoc. 1998;280:1585–1589

PII: S0306-9877(01)91407-0

doi: 10.1054/mehy.2001.1407

Medical Hypotheses
Volume 58, Issue 3 , Pages 213-220 , March 2002