In addition to reducing the risk of PMS, calcium and vitamin D also may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and some cancers.

While most women may experience mild emotional or physical premenstrual symptoms, as many as eight to 20 percent suffer from symptoms severe enough to meet the definition of premenstrual syndrome, which can interfere substantially with normal life activities and interpersonal relationships, according to background information in the article.

Previous studies have suggested that calcium supplements and vitamin D, a hormone that regulates the absorption of calcium (nicknamed the sunshine vitamin because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays) may reduce the occurrence and severity of premenstrual symptoms.

Four Glasses of Milk

Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson, Sc.D., of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and colleagues compared the diets and supplement use of two groups of women aged 27 to 44 years. The first group consisted of 1,057 women who reported developing PMS over the course of 10 years. They were compared to 1,968 women who reported no diagnosis of PMS, or no or minimal premenstrual symptoms, in the same time period.

The women, who were participants in the Nurses Health Study (NHS), all reported no PMS when the study began in 1991. Their intake of calcium and vitamin D from diet and/or supplements was calculated from food frequency and standard NHS questionnaires administered in 1991, 1995 and 1999.

“We observed a significantly lower risk of developing PMS in women with high intakes of vitamin D and calcium from food sources, equivalent to about four servings per day of skim or low-fat milk, fortified orange juice or low-fat dairy foods, such as yogurt,” the authors write.

“These dietary intakes correspond to approximately 1,200 mg. of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D from food sources," they continue. "While previous studies have observed the benefits of calcium supplements for treating PMS, this is the first, to our knowledge, to suggest that calcium and vitamin D may help prevent the initial development of PMS.”

Osteoporosis, Cancer

“Our findings, together with those from several small randomized trials that found calcium supplements to be effective in treating PMS, suggest that a high intake of calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of PMS,” the authors say.

“Clinical trials of this issue are warranted. In the interim, given that calcium and vitamin D may also reduce risk of osteoporosis and some cancers, clinicians may consider recommending these nutrients even for younger women,” they conclude.