--- title: Are vitamin D and calcium deficiency linked to severe PMS symptoms? description: Women with lower vitamin D levels and calcium intake had more severe PMS symptoms including fatigue, headache, and mood swings. The study is small and shows a url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/severity-of-premenstrual-symptoms-among-women-with-musculoskeletal-pain-relation-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are vitamin D and calcium deficiency linked to severe PMS symptoms? Case-control study, 2024 # Are vitamin D and calcium deficiency linked to severe PMS symptoms? Women with lower vitamin D levels and calcium intake had more severe PMS symptoms including fatigue, headache, and mood swings. The study is small and shows a link but doesn't prove supplements would help. Early or limited evidence 108 women with muscle pain and 108 healthy controls ## What they did Researchers compared 108 women with muscle pain to 108 healthy women. They measured vitamin D in blood, asked about daily calcium intake, assessed anxiety and depression with a questionnaire, and recorded PMS symptoms. ## What they found Women with muscle pain had significantly lower vitamin D levels, lower daily calcium consumption, higher anxiety and depression scores, and higher frequency of severe premenstrual symptoms including fatigue, headache, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal compared to controls (all P<0.05). ## What it means for you Vitamin D deficiency, low calcium, anxiety, and depression may be linked to severe PMS, particularly in women with muscle pain. The main limitation is the small sample size. The researchers recommend larger studies to test whether vitamin D and calcium supplements actually improve PMS. 108 women with muscle pain 108 healthy controls P<0.05 significance for all symptom differences ## About the study Original title Severity of premenstrual symptoms among women with musculoskeletal pain: relation to vitamin D, calcium, and psychological symptoms Authors Abdul-Razzak K, Alshdaifat E, Sindiani A et al. Journal Journal of medicine and life Year 2024 Study design Case-control study Participants 108 What was tested None; observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.25122/jml-2023-0050](https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2023-0050) Original abstract Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has various symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and subside after menstruation. Anxiety and depression are prevalent in women with PMS and may exacerbate the severity of PMS. Vitamin D and calcium deficiency may have a role in developing anxiety, depression, and musculoskeletal pain (MSP). The aim of this study was to evaluate selected premenstrual symptoms in relation to serum vitamin D levels, daily calcium consumption, and psychological symptoms among women with MSP. The study population consisted of 108 women with MSP and 108 healthy controls. Information about premenstrual symptoms and calcium consumption were collected. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Vitamin D was determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Women with MSP had lower serum vitamin D levels, lower daily calcium consumption, higher HADS scores for anxiety and depression, and higher frequency of severe premenstrual symptoms including fatigue, headache, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal compared to controls ( P P P P P < 0.05). The results suggest that vitamin D deficiency, low calcium consumption, psychological symptoms, and MSP could be interrelated and implicated in the etiology severe premenstrual symptoms. Further studies are necessary to assess whether vitamin D and calcium supplements can relieve MSP and premenstrual symptoms. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[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 Study, 2025 Could taking a combination of vitamins and minerals help with PMS and PMDD symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Cohort study, 2025 Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions? Review, 2011 What are PMS and PMDD, and how common are they? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Randomised trial, 2021 Does hypnotherapy reduce pain and emotional distress in women with PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗