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Survey study, 2019

Do girls with PMS have lower vitamin D and calcium levels?

Girls with PMS had lower calcium levels than girls without PMS. Vitamin D was low in both groups with no clear difference between them.

Moderate study design 42 university students aged 21-29: 21 with PMS and 21 without PMS

What they did

Researchers compared 21 university students aged 21-29 with PMS to 21 matched controls without PMS. They measured blood levels of vitamin D and calcium in both groups between March 2018 and March 2019.

What they found

Vitamin D levels were below normal in both groups (PMS group: 13.09 ng/ml, control group: 15.51 ng/ml) with no clear difference. Calcium was below normal in the PMS group (8.21 mg/dl) but normal in the control group (9.01 mg/dl), showing a clear difference.

What it means for you

Low calcium may be linked to PMS while vitamin D deficiency appears common in this population regardless of PMS status. This was a small study in one university in one country, so results may not apply to all women.

42

students (21 per group)

8.21 vs 9.01

calcium in mg/dl: PMS vs control

13.09 vs 15.51

vitamin D in ng/ml: PMS vs control

About the study

Original title
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME WITH VITAMIN D AND CALCIUM STATUS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors
Maryam Mahmood, Mayda Shamdeen, Tavge Abdulrahman
Journal
Journal of Sulaimani Medical College
Year
2019
Study design
Survey study
Participants
42
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Background Premenstrual syndrome causes both psychological and physiological adverse effects on women in reproductive age. Calcium and vitamin D may have an effect on the development of premenstrual syndrome through their relationship to endogenous estrogen. Objectives The current study aimed to assess student’s calcium serum level and vitamin D level and determine their relation with premenstrual syndrome among Sulaimani University students. Material and Method This observational study included 42 female students (21 participants diagnosed with Premenstrual syndrome and 21 participants as their controls) within the age ranges from 21-29 years who were students in Sulaimani University from March 2018 to March 2019. Serum level of Calcium and vitamin D were measured for each of them. Data collected by questionnaire form and data analysed by SPSS and for the relationship between variables Chi-square and T-test used. Results Students in both of control and premenstrual syndrome cases had a deficient level of vitamin D, with the level of 15.51±8.64 ng/ml and 13.09±6.02 ng/ml subsequently with non-significant relation. The level of serum calcium was below normal range in the premenstrual syndrome group (8.21±3.3 mg/dl) compare with the control group (9.01±0.47 mg/dl) was in normal range with significant relationship between case and control group (P-value 0.03). Conclusion The mean level of vitamin D was below the normal range in both case and control groups but they were lower in Premenstrual Syndrome cases compared with control cases among students in Sulaimani University and the mean level of serum calcium was low in case group with significant relation between case and control groups.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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