Dysmenorrhea affects a lot of menstruating women. A uterine overproduction of prostaglandins, synthesized from omega-6 fatty acids before menses that control vasoconstriction and uterine contractions is the pathogenetic trigger of dysmenorrhea. The authors of a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal propose that Vitamin D which works as an anti-inflammatory helps regulate the prostaglandin pathway to decrease prostaglandin activity. Participants of the study were women aged 18 to 40 who had experienced at least 4 consecutive painful menstrual periods within the 6 months prior to the study, and also had a 25(OH)D serum level below the upper limit of the lowest quartile (< 45 ng/ml). In addition, they were not taking calcium, vitamin D, oral contraceptives, or other medications, and they had not used an intrauterine contraceptive device during the previous 6 months.   
 
After 2 months, overall pain in the vitamin D group dropped by 41% and there was no difference in the pain among women taking placebo. In addition, during the study, none of the women in the vitamin D group needed NSAIDs to manage their pain and 40% of those taking placebo used an NSAID at least once. This study suggests that vitamin D could provide an alternative to painkillers and/or NSAIDS that are currently used.
 
References

• Can Vitamin D Treat Pain?  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759254
• Improvement of Primary Dysmenorrhea Caused by a Single Oral Dose of Vitamin D: Results of a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Wendy Tao, B.Sc.

Student Representative

A University of Alberta Bachelor of Science graduate with studies in food and nutrition, Wendy has a passion for nutrition and health. This has inspired her to continue her education in Naturopathic Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BINM). She is fluent in Chinese including Cantonese and Mandarin and has been active in the vitamin and nutrition field since 1996.

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