Cohort study, 2007
Is there something different about calcium and vitamin D levels in women with PMDD?
Yes, this study found women with PMDD had some differences in calcium-related hormones across the cycle compared to women without PMDD, including lower vitamin D levels in the second half of the cycle, though this does not prove it causes PMDD.
What they did
Researchers compared women with and without PMDD. The women tracked their symptoms for 2 months, then had their calcium-related hormones measured across one full menstrual cycle at several time points.
What they found
Calcium-related hormones changed significantly across the cycle in both groups. Women with PMDD had lower ionized calcium at menses (1.166 vs 1.182 mmol/liter, p=0.027), lower urine calcium at three points in the cycle, and lower active vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in the luteal phase, the time before a period (45.0 vs 50.6 pg/ml, p=0.032).
What it means for you
The drop in active vitamin D before a period may help explain some PMDD symptoms, but this is an early finding from one study comparing two groups, not a treatment trial, so it cannot yet tell women whether taking vitamin D or calcium would help.
1.166 vs 1.182
Ionized calcium at menses, PMDD vs controls (mmol/liter)
45.0 vs 50.6
Active vitamin D in luteal phase, PMDD vs controls (pg/ml)
p=0.032
Statistical significance for vitamin D difference
About the study
- Original title
- Cyclical changes in calcium metabolism across the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Thys-Jacobs S, McMahon D, Bilezikian JP
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- No treatment tested; hormone and mineral levels were measured, not changed.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-2726
Topics
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