Calcium Therapy for PMS

Premenstrual syndrome is a condition that affects many women and can cause a variety of emotional and physical changes, including bloating, breast tenderness, headache, fatigue and mood swings. Taking calcium supplements may help relieve some of these symptoms, but you should talk to your doctor before taking any calcium supplement.

Calcium and Hormones

Calcium is a mineral that is important for all of the cells in your body, particularly your muscle and nerve cells. Calcium levels are regulated in part by the amount of vitamin D in your blood, but other factors can also affect your calcium levels. As a review published in a 2000 issue of "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" states, some of the hormonal changes that occur during your menstrual cycle can cause changes in your calcium and vitamin D levels.

Calcium and PMS Treatment

Some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or PMS may be due to a temporary decrease in calcium levels. A study published in a 1998 issue of "The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" examined the effects of administering 1,200 mg of calcium each day to women over the course of three menstrual cycles. Women taking the calcium had fewer PMS symptoms than women who did not.

Calcium and PMS Prevention

Increasing the amount of calcium and vitamin D in your diet may also help prevent PMS. In 2005 "The Archives of Internal Medicine" published the results of a study that examined the relationship between dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D and PMS symptoms. Increased calcium and vitamin D intake was associated with a reduced risk of developing PMS symptoms.

Considerations

More research still needs to be done on the affects of calcium supplementation on the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, but it appears that increasing your calcium intake may help relieve or prevent some of these health problems. You should talk to your doctor before taking any sort of calcium or vitamin D supplement, however, because too much of either substance can cause serious side effects.