Effect of calcium on physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome is a set of physical, mental and mood symptoms that occurs in the luteal of the menstrual cycle. Calcium supplement as an inexpensive and uncomplicated treatment prevents of many premenstrual stress. This study was performed with aim to investigate the effect of calcium supplement on severity of physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
This double blind clinical trial study was performed on 64 female students diagnosed with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Data collection tool were demographic information questionnaire, standard form of provisional diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome, and checklist of premenstrual syndrome daily recording. Intervention was performed as administration of 500 mg of calcium per day orally for two menstrual cycles in the experimental group and administration of placebo in control group. The questionnaires were completed at baseline questionnaires, at the end of first and second months after the intervention. Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version 20).
P All physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (headache, back pain, leg pain, depression, irritability, general pain and abdominal pain) except cramps significantly reduced in the first cycle of calcium consumption. Also, all physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (cramps, headache, back pain, leg pain, depression, irritability, general pain and abdominal pain) significantly reduced in the second cycle of calcium consumption (P Calcium reduces the physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. So, calcium can be used as a safe and effective drug to reduce the physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.