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Cohort study, 2020

Are calcium and magnesium levels lower in women with PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS had significantly lower calcium (8.3 vs 9.1 mg/dL) and magnesium (1.5 vs 1.9 mg/dL) levels compared to healthy women.

Moderate study design 50 women with PMS and 50 healthy controls, aged 18-45, in South India

What they did

A cross-sectional study compared 50 women with clinically diagnosed PMS and 50 age-matched healthy women (100 total) in South India. Blood samples were taken during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle to measure calcium and magnesium levels.

What they found

Mean serum calcium was significantly lower in PMS group (8.3 ± 0.6 vs 9.1 ± 0.5 mg/dL, p<0.001). Mean serum magnesium was significantly lower in PMS group (1.5 ± 0.2 vs 1.9 ± 0.3 mg/dL, p<0.001). Symptom severity correlated inversely with both calcium and magnesium levels.

What it means for you

Women with PMS have lower blood calcium and magnesium, and more severe symptoms are linked to lower levels. This suggests micronutrient supplements might help PMS, but this is a cross-sectional study, so we cannot determine if low minerals cause PMS or if PMS causes low minerals.

8.3

mean calcium in PMS group (mg/dL)

9.1

mean calcium in control group (mg/dL)

1.5

mean magnesium in PMS group (mg/dL)

About the study

Original title
Assessment of serum calcium and magnesium concentrations in premenstrual syndrome: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in South India
Authors
Fatma Mohammed, Moushumi Saikia
Journal
International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Year
2020
Study design
Cohort study
Participants
100
Open access
Yes

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