Case-control study, 2019
Are zinc and copper levels linked to PMS in teenage girls?
The study found that girls with both irritable bowel syndrome and period pain had lower dietary zinc intake, but did not find a clear link between minerals and PMS alone.
What they did
Researchers measured zinc and copper in blood and diet of 448 teenage girls. Girls were divided into four groups: PMS only (67), painful periods only (161), both PMS and painful periods (146), and no symptoms (74). Blood tests and food records measured mineral levels.
What they found
Dietary zinc intake was significantly lower in girls with irritable bowel syndrome (6.7 ± 2.8 mg/day) versus those without it (7.9 ± 3.1 mg/day). Irritable bowel syndrome was more common in girls with painful periods (19.9%) and those with both conditions (17.4%) than PMS alone (13.6%) or normal (8.1%).
What it means for you
Lower zinc intake may matter for girls with both period pain and digestive problems. Results are unclear about whether zinc helps PMS specifically since the study cannot prove causation from this observational design.
6.7 ± 2.8 mg/day
zinc in girls with IBS
7.9 ± 3.1 mg/day
zinc in girls without IBS
19.9%
IBS in girls with painful periods
About the study
- Original title
- The association of trace elements with premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea and irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents
- Authors
- Bahrami A, Gonoodi K, Khayyatzadeh SS et al.
- Journal
- European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 161
- What was tested
- No intervention - observational study of mineral intake
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.12.017
Topics
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