Vitamin D Supplementation for Premenstrual Syndrome-Related Mood Disorders in Adolescents with Severe Hypovitaminosis D.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) might become severe enough to interfere with normal interpersonal relationships. This study was planned to assess whether administration of vitamin D (200,000 IU at first, followed by 25,000 IU every 2 weeks) for a 4-month period might lessen the appearance and the intensity of mood disorders associated with PMS in young girls with severe hypovitaminosis D. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One hundred fifty-eight young girls (15-21 years old) with PMS-related severe symptoms of the emotional and cognitive domains and low serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D) levels (≤10 ng/mL) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups and treated for 4 months with vitamin D (group 1; n = 80) or placebo (group 2; n = 78). Clinical and hormonal effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

In patients from group 1, levels of vitamin D reached the normal range (35-60 ng/mL) after the first month and remained stable throughout the whole study. At the end of treatment, anxiety score decreased from 51 to 20 (P < .001 vs baseline); irritability score declined from 130 to 70 (P < .001 vs baseline). Crying easily and sadness decreased by a score of 41 and 51 to a score of 30 and 31, respectively (P < .001). For disturbed relationships, the score decreased from 150 to 70 (P < .001). Conversely, no appreciable changes were noted in symptom intensity from patients of group 2. The frequency of adverse events (nausea and constipation) was not different between participants of group 1 and group 2.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the present findings, vitamin D therapy can be proposed as a safe, effective, and convenient method for improving the quality of life in young women with severe hypovitaminosis D and concomitant mood disorders associated with PMS.