Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2019 Nov;62(6):462-468. 10.5468/ogs.2019.62.6.462.

Comparison of the effect of vitamin E, vitamin D and ginger on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea: a single-blind clinical trial

• Pakniat H
• Chegini V
• Ranjkesh F
• Hosseini M

• KMID: 2462125
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2019.62.6.462

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common problems for women, especially during their reproductive age. Various studies have examined the effects of vitamins D and E and ginger supplements. This study aimed to investigate the individual effects of each of these supplements on dysmenorrhea.
METHODS
This single-blind clinical trial was conducted in 2016 on students aged 18 to 25 years who complained of mild to severe dysmenorrhea. The participants were randomly assigned into 4 groups: vitamin D, vitamin E, ginger, and placebo. The effects of the supplements on the severity of dysmenorrhea were evaluated in 2 successive cycles using the visual analog scale (VAS) and a questionnaire.
RESULTS
Initially, 240 female students were enrolled in the study; thereafter, 40 students were excluded from the study owing to follow-up loss. The average VAS score for dysmenorrhea in the entire study population was 7.13±0.80 before the intervention; the mean VAS score after the first and second months of supplement use was 5.37±1.51 and 4.93±1.48, respectively. The highest reduction in pain severity was observed in the ginger group (F=74.54, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Vitamin D, vitamin E, and ginger significantly reduced the severity of dysmenorrhea, with ginger having the most significant effect followed by vitamin D and vitamin E. Given the low risk of these supplements, more studies must be conducted on their use as opposed to analgesics.

Keyword

Ginger; Dysmenorrhea; Menstrual cycle; Vitamin E; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

Analgesics
Dysmenorrhea*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Ginger*
Humans
Menstrual Cycle
Visual Analog Scale
Vitamin D*
Vitamin E*
Vitamins*
Analgesics
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 patients allocation.

• 

  Fig. 2 The average pain severity in 3 periods in different groups. VAS, visual analog scale.

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