Calcium, Vitamin D, and Dairy Intake and Premenstrual Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Calcium and vitamin D have been suggested to be associated with the amelioration of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, evidence for an association between the dietary intake of these nutrients and PMS is limited and inconsistent. We examined the cross-sectional association of calcium and vitamin D intake with PMS. Participants were 390 women aged 22-49 y who responded to a mail survey in 2022-2023. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. PMS were assessed using the Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios of PMS according to tertiles of calcium and vitamin D intake with adjustment for potential confounding variables. The prevalence of moderate to severe PMS was 10% (39 women). Neither calcium nor vitamin D intake was significantly associated with PMS. However, calcium intake was associated with a decreased prevalence of PMS, albeit without statistical significance, with multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for PMS in the lowest through highest tertiles of calcium intake of 1.00 (reference), 0.47 (0.18-1.25), and 0.27 (0.07-1.08), respectively (p for trend=0.06). The odds ratio of PMS was low in the highest tertile of vitamin D intake compared with the lowest, but without statistical significance (odds ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.19-1.66). Our findings suggest that calcium and vitamin D intake was not appreciably associated with PMS. The suggestive inverse association between calcium intake and PMS requires further investigation.