Randomised trial, 2016
Does vitamin D improve mood symptoms in girls with severe vitamin D deficiency and PMS?
Yes. Girls with severe vitamin D deficiency and PMS who received vitamin D supplements showed significant improvements in anxiety, irritability, crying, and sadness by the fourth month of treatment.
What they did
Randomized trial at 2 Italian academic centers from 2010-2012 with 158 girls aged 15-21 with severe PMS, severe vitamin D deficiency (≤10 ng/ml), and severe PMS symptoms. One group received vitamin D-3 (200,000 IU on day 1, then 25,000 IU every 2 weeks for 4 months); the other received placebo in the same pattern. Mood was assessed monthly.
What they found
By month 3, the vitamin D group showed improvements in emotional symptoms. By month 4, anxiety, irritability, crying, and sadness were all significantly reduced compared to baseline in the vitamin D group.
What it means for you
Vitamin D supplementation may help mood symptoms in girls with very low vitamin D levels and PMS. The study only included girls with extremely low vitamin D, so it's unclear if it works for those with moderate deficiency or normal levels.
158
Girls in study
4
Months of treatment
≤10 ng/ml
Baseline vitamin D level
About the study
- Original title
- Vitamin D Improves Mood Disorders in D-Deficient Girls With PMS
- Journal
- AAP Grand Rounds
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 158
- What was tested
- Vitamin D-3 supplementation (200,000 IU day 1, then 25,000 IU every 2 weeks) for 4 months
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-4-42
Topics
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