Evidence supporting the use of: Pregnenolone
For the health condition: Mood Swings

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring neurosteroid and a precursor hormone in the steroidogenesis pathway. Its use for mood swings is primarily supported by emerging scientific interest, although high-quality clinical evidence is still limited. Some small clinical studies and preclinical research suggest pregnenolone may influence mood regulation due to its modulatory effects on neurotransmitter systems, particularly GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling. For example, a few pilot studies have examined pregnenolone supplementation in patients with mood disorders like bipolar disorder and major depression, with some indicating mild improvements in mood symptoms. Additionally, pregnenolone levels have been found to be altered in individuals experiencing mood disorders, suggesting a possible association.

However, the evidence is not robust. Most studies to date are small, short-term, or preliminary, and there is a lack of large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled trials specifically targeting mood swings. Some data comes from trials in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but results are mixed and often focus on broader symptom domains than mood swings alone. There is also an absence of long-term safety data. In summary, while there is some scientific rationale and early research supporting pregnenolone’s potential to modulate mood, the overall quality and quantity of evidence for its use in treating or supporting mood swings remains weak to modest. More rigorous clinical trials are needed to determine its efficacy and safety in this context.

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