Randomised trial, 2009
Does calcium help PMS symptoms like tiredness and depression?
Yes. Women taking 500 mg calcium carbonate twice daily for 3 months had significant improvements in tiredness, appetite changes, and depression compared to placebo.
What they did
This was a controlled trial where college students with PMS were randomly assigned to receive calcium or placebo. One group took 500 mg calcium carbonate twice daily and the other took placebo. Both groups continued for 3 months. Before and after, symptoms including tiredness, appetite changes, and depression were assessed using questionnaires.
What they found
The calcium group showed significant improvements in early tiredness, appetite changes, and depressive symptoms compared to the placebo group. Specific percentages or effect sizes were not reported in the abstract.
What it means for you
Calcium supplements may help reduce some specific PMS symptoms including fatigue, appetite changes, and depression. The main limitation is that the abstract doesn't state the total number of women studied, making it hard to judge how reliable the findings are. The study was also limited to college students.
500 mg
calcium dose, twice daily
3 months
treatment duration
21.4 ± 3.6
mean age in years
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of calcium supplement therapy in women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Ghanbari Z, Haghollahi F, Shariat M et al.
- Journal
- Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- 500 mg calcium carbonate twice daily for 3 months
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s1028-4559(09)60271-0
Topics
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