Randomised trial, 2017
Does calcium reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes. Women taking 500 mg of calcium daily for two months had significantly less severe PMS symptoms than those taking placebo, especially mood and water retention problems.
What they did
66 female university students with PMS were randomly assigned to take either 500 mg of calcium or placebo daily for two months. Researchers measured PMS symptom severity during one menstrual cycle before and two menstrual cycles after treatment.
What they found
Before treatment, both groups had similar PMS symptoms. After treatment, the calcium group had significantly less severe symptoms in both the first and second months. Improvements were largest in anxiety, depression, emotional changes, water retention, and physical symptoms.
What it means for you
Calcium supplements may help reduce PMS symptoms, especially mood-related and water retention issues. The study only included university students in Iran, so findings may not apply to all women with PMS.
66
women with PMS
500 mg daily
calcium dose
2 months
treatment length
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of calcium on premenstrual syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial
- Authors
- Shobeiri F, Araste FE, Ebrahimi R et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics & gynecology science
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- 500 mg calcium daily for two months
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2017.60.1.100
Topics
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