---
title: Does zinc supplement help dysmenorrhea and PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes. Taking zinc supplements for 4 days before menstruation reduced period pain severity, improved menstrual bleeding, and reduced symptoms like headache, diz
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-positive-effects-of-zinc-supplements-on-the-improvement-of-primary-2015/
---

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- Does zinc supplement help dysmenorrhea and PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2015

# Does zinc supplement help dysmenorrhea and PMS symptoms?

Yes. Taking zinc supplements for 4 days before menstruation reduced period pain severity, improved menstrual bleeding, and reduced symptoms like headache, dizziness, and muscle pain compared to placebo.

 Moderate study design

66 university students in Iran with dysmenorrhea

## What they did

Double-blind randomized trial with 66 university students in Iran with dysmenorrhea lasting at least 3 menstrual cycles. One group took zinc supplements (50 mg) twice daily for 4 days before menstruation; the control group took placebo in the same pattern.

## What they found

The zinc group had lower dysmenorrhea severity and improved menstrual bleeding. They also reported lower frequency of headache, vertigo, muscular pain, disability in daily activities, and general weakness. The zinc group used less pain medication than the placebo group.

## What it means for you

Briefly taking zinc supplements before periods may reduce period pain and some related symptoms. The study only examined 4 days of treatment in student populations, so it's not clear if longer use or use in other groups would be different.

66

University students

50 mg

Zinc dose twice daily

4

Days before menstruation

## About the study

Original title The Positive Effects of Zinc Supplements on the Improvement of Primary Dysmenorrhea and Premenstrual Symptoms: A Double-blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial Authors Gita Sangestani, Mahnaz Khatiban, Roberto Marci et al. Journal DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) Year 2015 Study design Randomised trial Participants 66 What was tested Zinc supplements (50 mg) twice daily for 4 days before menstruation Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.22038/jmrh.2015.4463](https://doi.org/10.22038/jmrh.2015.4463)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Zinc and iron](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-zinc-iron/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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