Dr. Judith Wurtman, PhD, a research scientist at MIT, and founder and director of Harvard University's TRIAD Weight Management Center, is also the inventor of PMS Escape^®† and received a patent for her work on the formula.

At first glance, the label for a packet of PMS Escape^®† may seem surprising: 32 grams of sugar and 190 calories per serving. However, Dr. Wurtman's research showed that when faced with the psychological ups and downs of PMS, caloric intake can actually increase by an average of 1100 calories during the 3 to 4 day span.

The Sustained Balanced™ Blend in PMS Escape^®† contains a blend of simple (dextrose) and complex carbohydrates (maltodextrin and potato starch) that is formulated to increase the ratio of serum tryptophan to large neutral amino acids,  thus enhancing serotonin production.^†1 It has been shown that increasing levels of tryptophan, the immediate presursor to serotonin, compared to other amino acids, is associated with an increase in brain tryptophan levels and serotonin production.^†1,2,3 An increase in serotonin levels has been shown to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, including reductions in symptoms of occasional sadness, tension, and anger, as well as cravings for sugar and carbohydrates.†