---
title: Does calcium help PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes, likely. Seventy-three percent of women reported fewer symptoms during calcium treatment, and symptom scores dropped significantly during both the luteal
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/calcium-supplementation-in-premenstrual-syndrome-a-randomized-crossover-trial-1989/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does calcium help PMS?

Randomised trial, 1989

# Does calcium help PMS?

Yes, likely. Seventy-three percent of women reported fewer symptoms during calcium treatment, and symptom scores dropped significantly during both the luteal and menstrual phases on calcium compared to placebo.

 Moderate study design

33 women with moderate to severe PMS who completed the trial

## What they did

Randomized double-blind crossover trial. Seventy-eight women were screened and 33 completed the trial. Each woman received three months of daily calcium supplementation (1,000 mg) and three months of placebo in random order. Symptoms were tracked daily.

## What they found

Calcium significantly reduced symptoms during the luteal phase (p=0.011) and menstrual phase (p=0.032). Seventy-three percent reported fewer symptoms on calcium, 15% preferred placebo, and 12% had no clear preference. Calcium specifically improved negative affect, water retention, and pain in the luteal phase, and pain during the menstrual phase.

## What it means for you

Calcium is simple, affordable, and appears to work for PMS, especially for mood, bloating, and pain. The main limits are that only 33 women completed the study and more research is needed to understand how it works and the right dose.

1,000

Mg of calcium carbonate per day

73

Percentage reporting fewer symptoms on calcium

33

Women who completed the trial

## About the study

Original title Calcium supplementation in premenstrual syndrome: a randomized crossover trial Authors Thys-Jacobs S, Ceccarelli S, Bierman A et al. Journal Journal of general internal medicine Year 1989 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Calcium carbonate 1,000 mg per day for three months Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/bf02599520](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02599520)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Survey study, 2019

Does low vitamin D make premenstrual symptoms worse?

Survey study, 2007

Are diet and lifestyle factors associated with premenstrual symptoms?

Review, 2003

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 1991

Does calcium help PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2025

Can soy isoflavone supplements help with PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Case-control study, 2024

Are vitamin D and calcium deficiency linked to severe PMS symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗