Progesterone is primarily responsible for thickening the uterine lining to prepare the female body for implantation of a fertilized egg, but it plays many other roles. For example, low progesterone levels can lead to mood swings, poor sleep, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles, and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), ultimately leading to a significantly reduced quality of life. Fortunately, there are natural options to support healthy progesterone levels in women.
Vitex agnus-castus, commonly known as Chastetree or vitex, has a long history of use for female menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome, and women's health issues. The diterpene compounds and flavonoids in vitex have been shown to exhibit dopaminergic action, thereby reducing prolactin levels and increasing endogenous progesterone levels. Vitex has also been shown to stimulate melatonin secretion in a dose-dependent manner, possibly providing a sleep-support mechanism. Collectively, these actions would explain why clinical research has shown that vitex can improve menstrual cycle regularity, PMS symptoms of bloating, breast tenderness and mood, and perimenopausal symptoms of low libido and fatigue.
Research has shown that vitamins C and E, alone and in combination, are able to increase blood progesterone levels in women. Vitamin E has been shown to reduce breast tenderness in people with PMS, while the combination with vitamin C has been shown to reduce inflammatory cytokines and reduce chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis.
Finally, neurotransmitter imbalances appear to play a role in many PMS symptoms. Vitamin B6 is a nutrient that may help balance these pathways. The conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin and the synthesis of GABA and dopamine all require vitamin B6 as a cofactor. This is thought to explain why vitamin B6 as a stand-alone treatment has been shown to be beneficial in treating premenstrual symptoms such as breast tenderness, PMDD, and some causes of nausea.
Progest Matrix combines these four evidence-based ingredients into one formula to provide support for a wide range of women's health concerns. Vitex agnus-castus is delivered in a highly concentrated 10:1 extract for enhanced biological activity. Vitamin B6 is delivered in the active form of pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), which is immediately ready for use in the nervous system after absorption from the digestive tract. Vitamin E is provided in a mixture of tocopherols, sourced from non-GMO rapeseed oil, and combined with vitamin C for more comprehensive antioxidant activity.
Collectively, Progest Matrix is indicated for improving health problems associated with low progesterone levels in women, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause, hyperprolactinemia, insomnia, and infertility.