HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Cited by other online articles Google Scholar Articles by Thys-Jacobs, S. Articles citing this Article PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thys-Jacobs, S.

Micronutrients and the Premenstrual Syndrome: The Case for Calcium

Clinical Director, Metabolic Bone Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York

Address reprint requests to: Dr. Susan Thys-Jacobs, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Center, 425 West 59th Street, Suite 9C, New York, New York 10019

Premenstrual syndrome afflicts millions of premenopausal women and has been described as one of the most common disorders in women. Research over the past few years suggests that a variety of nutrients may have an important role in the phase related mood and behavioral disturbances of the premenstrual syndrome. There is scientific evidence, at least for a few of these micronutrients, specifically calcium and vitamin D, supporting cyclic fluctuations during the menstrual cycle that may help explain some features of PMS. Ovarian hormones influence calcium, magnesium and vitamin D metabolism. Estrogen regulates calcium metabolism, intestinal calcium absorption and parathyroid gene expression and secretion, triggering fluctuations across the menstrual cycle. Alterations in calcium homeostasis (hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia) have long been associated with many affective disturbances. PMS shares many features of depression, anxiety and the dysphoric states. The similarity between the symptoms of PMS and hypocalcemia is remarkable. Clinical trials in women with PMS have found that calcium supplementation effectively alleviates the majority of mood and somatic symptoms. Evidence to date indicates that women with luteal phase symptomatology have an underlying calcium dysregulation with a secondary hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency. This strongly suggests that PMS represents the clinical manifestation of a calcium deficiency state that is unmasked following the rise of ovarian steroid hormone concentrations during the menstrual cycle.

Key words: calcium, vitamin D, premenstrual syndrome, magnesium, parathyroid hormone

This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)

				E. R. Bertone-Johnson, S. E. Hankinson, A. Bendich, S. R. Johnson, W. C. Willett, and J. E. Manson Calcium and Vitamin D Intake and Risk of Incident Premenstrual Syndrome Archives of Internal Medicine, June 13, 2005; 165(11): 1246 - 1252. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. L. Fulgoni III, P. J. Huth, D. B. DiRienzo, and G. D. Miller Determination of the Optimal Number of Dairy Servings to Ensure a Low Prevalence of Inadequate Calcium Intake in Americans J. Am. Coll. Nutr., December 1, 2004; 23(6): 651 - 659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Miller, J. K. Jarvis, and L. D. McBean The Importance of Meeting Calcium Needs with Foods J. Am. Coll. Nutr., April 1, 2001; 20(2): 168S - 185. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]