--- title: Does vitamin D affect premenstrual symptoms, and does your genetics matter? description: The link depends on your genes. Women with one genetic type and low vitamin D had higher odds of fatigue and nausea. Another type had lower odds. A third type url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/variation-in-the-vitamin-d-receptor-gene-plasma-25-hydroxyvitamin-d-and-risk-of-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does vitamin D affect premenstrual symptoms, and does your genetics matter? Survey study, 2021 # Does vitamin D affect premenstrual symptoms, and does your genetics matter? The link depends on your genes. Women with one genetic type and low vitamin D had higher odds of fatigue and nausea. Another type had lower odds. A third type had more appetite changes with low vitamin D. Moderate study design 716 women aged 20-29 in Toronto, Canada ## What they did A study of 716 women aged 20-29. They provided blood samples and answered questions about 15 common premenstrual symptoms. Researchers measured their vitamin D levels and tested a specific genetic variant related to vitamin D processing. ## What they found In women with CC type, low vitamin D was linked to higher odds of fatigue and nausea. In women with TT type, low vitamin D was linked to lower odds of fatigue and lower odds of increased appetite. In women with CT type, low vitamin D was linked to higher odds of increased appetite. ## What it means for you Whether low vitamin D makes PMS worse may depend on your genes, specifically one genetic variant involved in how your body processes vitamin D. However, genes are complex and this is just one piece of the puzzle. The study included only women aged 20-29 in Toronto. 716 women studied 20-29 years age range 50 nmol/L vitamin D threshold for sufficiency ## About the study Original title Variation in the vitamin D receptor gene, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and risk of premenstrual symptoms Authors Jarosz AC, Noori D, Zeitoun T et al. Journal Genes & nutrition Year 2021 Study design Survey study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12263-021-00696-2](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12263-021-00696-2) Original abstract Background: Vitamin D status has been associated with the presence and severity of several premenstrual symptoms (PMSx) in some, but not all studies. Inconsistencies among findings may be explained by unaccounted genetic variation in the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Objective: To determine whether associations between vitamin D status and individual PMSx are influenced by VDR genotype. Methods: Seven hundred sixteen women aged 20-29 years old from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health study provided plasma samples and completed a questionnaire on the presence and severity of 15 common PMSx. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration was measured and participants were categorized into sufficient (≥ 50 nmol/L) and insufficient (< 50 nmol/L) vitamin D status groups. DNA was obtained from blood samples to genotype for a common VDR single nucleotide variant, rs796858. Using logistic regression, odds of experiencing PMSx were compared between vitamin D-sufficient and insufficient women, stratified by genotype. Results: Among CC homozygotes, insufficient vitamin D status was associated with higher odds of experiencing premenstrual fatigue (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.40, 4.56) and nausea (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.00, 5.95). Among TT homozygotes, insufficient vitamin D status was associated with lower odds of experiencing fatigue (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.20, 0.97) and increased appetite (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.22, 1.04). Insufficient vitamin D status was associated with higher odds of increased appetite in women with the CT genotype (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.03, 3.07). VDR genotype modified the association between vitamin D status and the following PMSx: increased appetite (interaction p = 0.027), fatigue (interaction p = 0.016), and nausea (interaction p = 0.039). Conclusion: We found evidence that VDR genotype may modify the association between 25(OH)D and some PMSx. Insufficient 25(OH)D was associated with a higher risk of premenstrual fatigue in those with the CC genotype, but lower risk in those with the TT genotype. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Vitamin D](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-d/) 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 Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2022 How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age? Study, 2022 Does having COVID-19 affect premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Randomised trial, 2021 Does hypnotherapy reduce pain and emotional distress in women with PMDD? Randomised trial, 2018 Does swimming reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms? 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