Dietary calcium and vitamin D may stop PMS
High intake of dietary calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing premenstrual syndrome, according to researchers in the US.
Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, department of public health, University of
Massachusetts, and colleagues conducted a case control study of nurses
aged 27 to 44 years old, who were free from PMS at baseline (1991). Over
10 years of follow up 1,057 women developed PMS and 1,968 reported no
diagnosis of PMS and no or minimal menstrual symptoms. Intake of dietary
and supplemental calcium and vitamin D was measured via a postal questionnaire
in 1991, 1995 and 1999.
Results show that intake of dietary calcium is inversely related to PMS.
Women with the highest intake (median 1,283mg per day) had a relative
risk of 0.70 compared with those with a low intake (median 529mg per
day) (P=0.02). Similarly, women with a high intake of dietary vitamin
D (median 706IU per day) had a lower risk of developing PMS compared
with those with a low intake (median 112IU per day) (P=0.01).
The researchers found no association between calcium and vitamin D supplements
and risk of PMS but say the proportion of women in the study taking calcium
supplements was small.
“Our findings, together with those from several small randomised
trials that found calcium supplements to be effective in treating PMS,
suggest
a high intake of calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of PMS. Given
that calcium and vitamin D may also reduce the risk of osteoporosis and
some cancers, clinicians may consider recommending these nutrients even
for younger women,” the authors conclude (Archives of Internal
Medicine 2005;165:1246). |
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