Research Article| April 01 2016 Vitamin D Improves Mood Disorders in D-Deficient Girls With PMS AAP Grand Rounds (2016) 35 (4): 42. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-4-42 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Vitamin D Improves Mood Disorders in D-Deficient Girls With PMS. AAP Grand Rounds April 2016; 35 (4): 42. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-4-42 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: mood disorder, premenstrual syndrome, vitamin d Source: Tartagni M, Cicinelli MV, Tartagni MV, et al. Vitamin D supplementation on premenstrual syndrome-related mood disorders in adolescents with severe hypovitaminosis D [published online ahead of print December 24, 2015, In press]. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2015.12.006 Researchers from multiple institutions sought to determine whether supplementing vitamin D-deficient adolescent girls with vitamin D-3 would improve emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This study was carried out at 2 academic centers in Italy from 2010–2012. Females 15–21 years of age were enrolled if they met standard diagnostic criteria of PMS, as outlined by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG); scored in the severe to extremely severe levels of intensity on the Daily Symptoms Rating (DSR) validated scale that lists 17 PMS symptoms; and had 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OHD) levels ≤10 ng/ml. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: group 1 received vitamin D-3 200,000 IU orally on day 1 followed by 25,000 IU orally every 2 weeks for 4 months, and group 2 received a placebo in a similar dosing pattern. Participants were blinded to their treatment assignment. All participants had vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels measured monthly for 4 months. DSR questionnaires were also completed and adverse events assessed monthly for 4 months. The primary outcome was change from baseline scores for each of the symptoms in the DSR among participants in the 2 treatment groups. A total of 158 patients participated in the study, 80 in group 1 and 78 in group 2. At baseline, both groups were comparable in mean age, BMI, mean menarche age, and sociodemographic/psychometric measures. Each group also had comparable 25-OHD, PTH, and calcium levels. Participants in group 1 (vitamin D) showed improvements in emotional symptoms by the third month of intervention. At the end of the 4-month study, levels of anxiety, irritability, crying, and sadness were all significantly reduced compared to baseline (P < .001). A decrease was also noted in perceived disturbance of relationships (P < .001). In group 2 (placebo), there was a reduction in the irritability score (P < .05), but there were no significant changes in the other symptoms. No significant difference was found in the frequency of adverse events between the 2 groups. In group 1 (vitamin D), 25-OHD levels increased from <10 to 35–58 ng/ml after the first month of treatment and remained stable throughout the course of the study. Serum calcium and PTH levels also remained constant throughout the study. The authors conclude that supplementation with vitamin D-3 is a safe and effective way to reduce the intensity of PMS emotional symptoms in adolescent females with very low vitamin D levels. Dr Weydert has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. PMS is a common disorder affecting menstruating women that can cause significant disruption in their daily lives. ACOG has published diagnostic criteria for... You do not currently have access to this content.