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Recent evidence suggests that disturbances in calcium regulation may be present in premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This industry-sponsored, double-blind, multicenter trial randomized 497 women aged 18 to 45 years with PMS to receive 1,200 mg of elemental calcium per day in the form of calcium carbonate or placebo for three menstrual cycles. Their symptoms had been recorded prospectively over two menstrual cycles with a validated daily self-assessment questionnaire composed of 17 items on four scales measuring negative affect, water retention, food cravings, and pain. The primary outcome measure was the average of the 17 daily symptom ratings.
During the luteal phase of the second and third treatment cycles, the calcium group reported significan…