A Randomized Controlled Study of Vitamin D in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea

Aim: The aim of this study was evaluating the effectiveness of vitamin D in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Material and Methods: A total of 142 patients between 16 and 35 years of age who were admitted to a university hospital and diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea were included in the study in a randomized controlled manner. Cases were randomized into three groups of 667 IU vitamin D once a day, 200 IU vitamin E once a day and 400 mg ibuprofen twice a day. The treatment was given two days before the expected date of menstruation and the first three days of menstruation. Treatment was continued in two consecutive cycles. Severity of menstrual pain was measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), as the primary outcome. Need for using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during two-month study period was evaluated as the secondary outcome. Results: There were no significant difference in age, body mass index and baseline VAS scores between groups. Pain severity of vitamin D group after treatment was found as low as in the ibuprofen group. Median VAS scores of vitamin D, vitamin E and ibuprofen groups were 5 (1-10), 7 (1-10) and 7 (2-10), respectively after treatment (p<0.001). Requirement of NSAIDs was significantly less in vitamin D group than the vitamin E group (27.3% vs 65.9%, p<0.001). There were no side effects in groups. Conclusion: Both vitamin D and E are effective in alleviation the pain of primary dysmenorrhea, however the effect of vitamin D is clearer