Vitamin D plays a crucial role in various biological functions of the human body. A new study has revealed that Vitamin D supplements can help in reducing the intensity of period pains.
The study conducted by a team of Taiwanese researchers found that this is especially beneficial for people with primary dysmenorrhoea, where no underlying medical condition is present for painful periods.
There are two types of painful periods: primary dysmenorrhoea which occurs without any medical cause; and secondary dysmenorrhoea, which results from conditions such as endometriosis.
In case of painful periods, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are typically the first-line treatment. However, these medicines have been linked to kidney injury, gastrointestinal bleeding, and high rates of hypersensitivity reactions.
According to the scientists, vitamin D inhibits pain-sensing signals. This means consuming vitamin D supplements may be an alternative treatment option for dysmenorrhoea. However, its effect on pain intensity in different types of dysmenorrhoea remains unclear.
The findings of the study were published in the Nutrients journal recently.
“We found that vitamin D supplementation was effective in reducing pain intensity in people with dysmenorrhoea, especially primary dysmenorrhoea, and the cumulative power in subgroup analyses supports a ‘true’ treatment response,” the researchers reiterated.
It is noteworthy that vitamin D deficiency is a known risk factor for endometriosis and the lack of vitamin D can cause dysmenorrhoea symptoms.