Non-randomised trial, 2018
Does high-dose vitamin D help with PMS and period pain in teenagers?
Yes, high-dose vitamin D significantly reduced PMS from 14.9% to 4.8% over 9 weeks. The study also found improvements in painful periods and specific symptoms like backache.
What they did
A study of 897 adolescent girls in Iran. All participants received 50,000 IU of vitamin D per week for 9 weeks. Researchers tracked how many girls had PMS and period pain, and measured specific symptom changes.
What they found
PMS prevalence fell from 14.9% to 4.8%. Period pain improved from 35.9% to 32.4%. In girls with both conditions, improvement went from 32.7% to 25.7%. Specific symptoms like backache and tendency to cry easily also improved significantly.
What it means for you
If you have PMS or period pain, high-dose vitamin D supplementation may help. The main limitation is that this study did not have a control group that didn't receive vitamin D, so we cannot be completely certain vitamin D alone caused the improvement.
897
girls studied
50,000 IU/wk
vitamin D dose
14.9% to 4.8%
PMS reduction
About the study
- Original title
- High dose vitamin D supplementation can improve menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual syndrome in adolescents
- Authors
- Bahrami A, Avan A, Sadeghnia HR et al.
- Journal
- Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 897
- What was tested
- High-dose vitamin D (50,000 IU per week) for 9 weeks
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2017.1423466
Topics
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