Methods
blood loss, dysmenorrhea, primary dysmenorrhea
BLOOD LOSS, DYSMENORRHEA, VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY, PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA
This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, was performed on 84 single female college students between 18 and 25 years old who living in dormitories. Students with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency were divided into experimental (n = 42) and control (n = 42) groups. Five days before the putative beginning of their next menstrual cycle, the experimental group received 300,000 IU vitamin D (50,000 IU, two tablets every 8 h), and the control group received a placebo (oral paraffin). The effects of the supplement on the severity of dysmenorrhea and menstrual blood loss were evaluated one cycle before and during two successive cycles. Using the visual analog scale (VAS), verbal multidimensional scoring system (VMS), and pictorial blood assessment chart (PBLAC) questionnaires. Fisher’s exact, Chi-square, independent sample t-test and repeated measurements were used.