Phospholipid formulation reduces PMS stress, trial finds

27 Mar 2018 --- A natural phospholipid formulation – Lipogen PMS – has been shown to relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. The product "fills a huge void in the market" as one of the few, non-pharmaceutical solutions for PMS symptom relief, claims the company. PMS refers to physical and emotional symptoms that occur one to two weeks before a woman’s period. PMS is experienced by 20 to 30 percent of women, according to the American Family Physician Journal, and Lipogen can offer "potential relief with a progressive, natural solution without unwanted secondary effects."

"As a natural product made from all-natural ingredients, Lipogen PMS has broad market appeal and is gaining attention from organizations, professionals and individuals searching for effective," David Rutenberg, Lipogen CEO, tells NutritionInsight.

"Lipogen is produced in a water-based process that closely mimics how phospholipids are made in our bodies – with no synthetic ingredients and no harmful solvents. This offers high bioavailability in an exclusive formula that can be put to work quickly and easily to our cells," he adds.

The study, published in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, evaluated forty woman ages 18 to 45, who were diagnosed with PMS by their physicians. It was found that the Lipogen PMS treatment group experienced an on-going reduction in premenstrual syndrome symptoms, while the placebo group returned to initial PMS-symptom levels. 
 
“I am quite impressed that a natural, non-pharmaceutical product has promising potential for relieving women’s PMS symptoms,” says Dr. Hellhammer, PhD., study director. 

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 and 400 mg phosphatidic acid. Treatment compliance was monitored with an electronic medication event monitoring system (MEMS). 

PMS symptoms showed improvements in four primary measures: emotional relief such as reduced depression and mood swings, physical relief such as lowered fatigue, bloating and disturbed sleep, cognitive relief such as less impact felt on productivity and lastly, social relief due to a perceived reduction of interference in personal relationships being experienced.

Lipogen PMS, patented in the US, Europe and Japan, is all-natural and has earned both US FDA GRAS status and EU EFSA Novel Food approval, the company states. Lipogen is considering further developing the product as a botanical drug, as the active ingredients already meet the preliminary requirements for a botanical drug. Because of this, the botanical drug process may fast-track Lipogen PMS approval – without the need for years-long clinical trials.

“This breakthrough research in relieving women’s PMS symptoms is relevant to a large segment of the population,” says Rutenberg.

"The supplement is a vegan/vegetarian formula with no preservatives, no artificial colors, no wheat, no gluten, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no nuts/tree nuts and no sugar, and can be put in a variety of forms. It is available in a friendly chewable, which follows market trends and may be better for adherence than capsules," he adds.

NutritionInsight has previously reported on Lipogen achieving patent status in the US. 

By Laxmi Haigh