Randomised trial, 2024
Does high-dose vitamin D help PMS symptoms in women with low vitamin D?
Yes. Vitamin D supplementation significantly improved overall PMS symptoms, especially mood-related symptoms like depression, in women with low vitamin D.
What they did
A 4-month randomized double-blind controlled trial with 44 women with low vitamin D and PMS. One group received 50,000 IU of vitamin D every 2 weeks, the other received placebo. Researchers measured vitamin D blood levels and PMS symptoms.
What they found
In the vitamin D group, blood vitamin D rose from 21 plus or minus 8 ng/ml to 40 plus or minus 8 ng/ml. In the placebo group, it rose slightly from 21 plus or minus 7 ng/ml to 23 plus or minus 7 ng/ml. Overall PMS symptoms improved significantly in the vitamin D group (p less than 0.001). Depression symptoms decreased by 53 percent, water retention by 28 percent. Mood symptoms improved more than physical symptoms.
What it means for you
Vitamin D helps PMS, particularly mood symptoms like depression, in women with low vitamin D. The study was small and focused on vitamin D insufficiency, so results apply mainly to women with low levels.
50,000 IU
dose of vitamin D given every 2 weeks
53%
improvement in depression symptoms
p < 0.001
highly significant improvement overall
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms severity in vitamin D insufficient women with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized controlled trial
- Authors
- Heidari H, Abbasi K, Feizi A et al.
- Journal
- Clinical nutrition ESPEN
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- 50,000 IU vitamin D every 2 weeks for 16 weeks (4 months)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.11.014
Topics
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