Survey study, 2017
Does calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduce premenstrual symptoms and depression?
Calcium and vitamin D together did not significantly reduce PMS or depression symptoms in this study. The study was very small with no control group, making the results unreliable.
What they did
Researchers studied 23 healthy women with an average age of 22.2 years. The women took calcium (600mg) and vitamin D (400IU) supplementation. The researchers measured PMS symptoms and depression before and after supplementation using standard questionnaires.
What they found
Before supplementation, 60.9% of women (14 out of 23) met criteria for PMS and 26.1% (6 out of 23) had depression symptoms. After supplementation, 52.2% (12 out of 23) had PMS symptoms and 17.4% (4 out of 23) had depression symptoms. The reduction in symptoms was 8.7% in both cases, but this reduction was not statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to chance. Five women had both PMS and depression before supplementation, and only two had both after.
What it means for you
This study found no clear benefit from taking calcium and vitamin D together for PMS or depression. The study was very small with no comparison group, so these results cannot be trusted. The authors note that longer treatment duration and higher doses might be needed.
60.9%
With PMS before supplementation
52.2%
With PMS after supplementation
8.7%
Reduction in symptoms (not significant)
About the study
- Original title
- The Effect of Combined Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation on Premenstrual Symptoms and Depression
- Authors
- Armağan Aytuğ Yürük, Funda Tamer, Reyhan Nergiz‐Unal
- Journal
- The FASEB Journal
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 14
- What was tested
- Calcium (600mg) and vitamin D (400IU) supplementation
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.799.3
Topics
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