Effect of calcium with and without magnesium on amount and duration of menstrual bleeding in students with primary dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Introduction: Calcium and magnesium deficiency have been mentioned as a risk factors for increasing amount of menstrual bleeding with dysmenorrhea. Given that no study was found in this field, the aim of this study was aimed determining the effect of calcium with and without magnesium on amount and duration of menstrual bleeding. Methods: This double blind randomized controlled trial was carried out on 63 students with moderate or severe dysmenorrhea in Tabriz, Iran in 2012. Participants were divided into three groups: receiving tablets of calcium, calcium combined magnesium and placebo. Amount and duration of menstrual bleeding was assessed during two months before and two months after starting intervention using the Higham chart. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Levene, One Way ANOVA, ANCOVA, paired t-test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The calcium-magnesium group compared to placebo had significantly lower amount of menstrual bleeding (p=0.009) and shorter duration of menstrual bleeding (p=0.006). In the calcium group compared to placebo group, there was no statistically significant difference on the mean amount of menstrual bleeding (p=0.029), but duration of bleeding was significantly less in the calcium group (p=0.017). Conclusion: The combination of calcium and magnesium is beneficial in reducing the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding in women with primary dysmenorrhea. This study could not show significant effect of calcium only, on amount of menstrual bleeding.