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. 2024 Jan:169:307-317.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.019. Epub 2023 Nov 24.

Estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Chih-Hung Ko  1 , Tzu-Hsuan Wong  2 , Jau-Ling Suen  3 , Pai-Cheng Lin  4 , Cheng-Yu Long  5 , Ju-Yu Yen  6
Affiliations

Estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Chih-Hung Ko et al. J Psychiatr Res. 2024 Jan.

Erratum in

Abstract

The interplay between ovarian hormones, stress, and inflammatory markers in developing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) remains inadequately understood. This study investigated the associations of dynamic changes in the levels of estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with PMDD during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. A total of 58 women with PMDD and 50 healthy women were recruited in this study. These women's estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, BDNF, and VEGF levels were evaluated during the preovulation (PO), mid-luteal (ML), and late-luteal (LL) phases. Furthermore, the severity of P MDD symptoms, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, inattention, craving for sweet foods, and fatigue was assessed. The findings revealed that women with PMDD with higher levels of progesterone during the ML or LL phase or a greater increase (ML-PO) or higher sum (ML + LL) of luteal progesterone level exhibited a greater increase in PMDD symptoms during the luteal phase than did the healthy controls. Furthermore, women with PMDD exhibited higher cortisol levels during the LL phase than did the controls. The BDNF level was negatively correlated with PMDD severity. Furthermore, BDNF and VEGF levels were negatively correlated with inattention and craving for sweet foods among women with PMDD. These results suggest an association between progesterone and the exacerbation of PMDD symptoms during the LL phase. Women with PMDD have relatively high cortisol levels during the LL phase. Future investigations with experimental designs or larger sample sizes are warranted to verify the roles of progesterone and cortisol in the development of PMDD.

Keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Cortisol; Estrogen; Premenstrual dysphoric disorder; Progesterone; Vascular endothelial growth factor.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest None All authors declare no conflict of interest. This study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST106-2314-B-037-040-MY3; MOST109-2314-B-037-083-; MOST110-2314-B-037-066-MY2), Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital (KMTTH 108-R04; KMTTH-109-R009; KMTTH-110-R004). These institutions have no role in this study's design, process, and publication. This study was not related to any pharmaceutical industries.

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