Abstract
Background
Premenstrual symptoms are experienced by up to 95% of women, and few treatments are
available. Previous studies suggest that 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) may be associated
with the severity of premenstrual symptoms, but the findings have been inconclusive.
Objective
The objective of this study was to determine whether vitamin D status is associated
with the severity of individual premenstrual symptoms.
Design/participants
Cross-sectional analysis of 998 women aged 20 to 29 years recruited at the University
of Toronto campus from 2004 through 2010.
Main outcome measures
Participants provided data on their premenstrual symptoms in a premenstrual symptom
questionnaire. Fasting overnight blood samples were collected, and plasma 25(OH)D
was measured. Participants with plasma 25(OH)D concentrations <20 ng/mL were considered
to have inadequate vitamin D status, and those with ≥20 ng/mL, adequate vitamin D
status.
Statistical analyses performed
Multinomial logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95%
confidence interval for the associations between vitamin D status and the severity
of 15 premenstrual symptoms. Adjustments were made for age, body mass index, ethnicity/race,
physical activity, hormonal contraceptive use, season of blood draw, use of analgesics,
and calcium intake.
Results
Compared with participants with adequate vitamin D status, those with inadequate vitamin
D status had an increased risk (odds ratio [OR]; 95% CI) of experiencing the following
mild symptoms: confusion (OR=1.72; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.59) and desire to be alone (OR=1.47;
95% CI; 1.03 to 2.10), as well as the following moderate/severe symptoms: cramps (OR=1.50;
95% CI, 1.02 to 2.21), fatigue (OR=1.51; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.21), anxiety (OR=1.63;
95% CI, 1.02 to 2.63), confusion (OR=2.23; 95% CI, 1.18 to 4.21), and sexual desire
(OR=1.65; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.51). Vitamin D status was not associated with other premenstrual
symptoms (acne, bloating, mood swings, increased appetite, headache, clumsiness, insomnia,
depression, or nausea).
Conclusion
Findings suggest that inadequate vitamin D status may be associated with increased
severity of some, but not all, premenstrual symptoms.
Keywords
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Biography
A. C. Jarosz is a medical student, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; at the time of the study, she was a master's candidate, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Biography
A. El-Sohemy is a professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 01, 2018
Accepted:
June 15,
2018
Received:
September 4,
2017
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. ACJ is a recipient of a CGS NSERC Master’s Award.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS A. C. Jarosz and A. El-Sohemy conceived of the study design. A. C. Jarosz performed the literature search, data analysis, and wrote the paper. Both authors contributed to data interpretation and reviewed the manuscript. A. El-Sohemy had primary responsibility for final content.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
