High prevalence of vitamin E inadequacy and adequate zinc intake among female medical students in Indonesia: Insights from a cross-sectional study on dysmenorrhea

Background Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among young women and impairs their academic performance and quality of life. Zinc and vitamin E may influence menstrual pain via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways; however, data on habitual intake in Southeast Asia are limited. Aim This study aimed to describe the adequacy of zinc and vitamin E intake among Indonesian female medical students and explore their associations with dysmenorrhea severity. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 107 female medical students in Indonesia. Dietary zinc and vitamin E intakes were assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Intake adequacy was defined as ≥77% of the Indonesian Recommended Dietary Allowance. Dysmenorrhea severity was measured using the Working Ability, Location, Intensity, Days of Pain, Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) score and was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Associations were examined using Fisher's exact test, with exploratory quartile analyses to assess potential intake–severity patterns. Results Zinc intake was adequate in almost all participants (98.1%), whereas vitamin E intake inadequacy was widespread (83.2%). Dysmenorrhea was highly prevalent, with 29.9% reporting mild symptoms, 55.1% moderate symptoms, and 15.0% severe symptoms. No significant associations were observed between zinc ( P = 0.745) or vitamin E ( P = 0.337) intake adequacy and dysmenorrhea severity, and quartile analyses showed no clear dose–response patterns. Conclusion Vitamin E inadequacy was highly prevalent, whereas zinc intake was generally adequate among Indonesian female medical students. Although no significant associations with dysmenorrhea severity were observed, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further biomarker-based and longitudinal studies are warranted.