Correlation between calcium intake and severity of premenstrual syndrome in female students in boarding high schools

Syaleisha Yasmine Razi -  Undergraduate Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
Yudi Feriandi -  Department of Humanities, Medical Education, Bioethics, and Islamic Insert, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
Yafma Femin Helta Heriady -  Departement of Biochemistry, Nutrition, dan Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
Eva Rianti Indrasari -  Departement of Biochemistry, Nutrition, dan Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
Mirasari Putri* -  Departement of Biochemistry, Nutrition, dan Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a multifactorial condition that occurs during the luteal phase and affects the daily activities of women of reproductive age. Calcium plays a role in PMS symptom severity, but its intake among adolescents, particularly boarding school students with limited dietary diversity, is often below the recommended RDA. This study aimed to identify the relationship between calcium intake and PMS symptom severity among female students at a boarding high school in Bogor during the 2025/2026 academic year. A quantitative observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among 85 respondents selected using the Proportionate Random Sampling method. Calcium intake data were collected using 3×24-Hour Estimated Food Records, and PMS symptom severity was measured using the Shortened Premenstrual Assessment Form (SPAF). The average calcium intake of respondents was 121±63 mg/day, and the average PMS score was 26±7.7. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant relationship (p=0.04), negative correlation (r=–0.21), and weak correlation strength (CI: -0.413 to 0.005) between low calcium intake and increased PMS symptom severity. In conclusion, these findings support the association between low calcium intake and increased PMS symptom severity, highlighting the importance of adequate calcium intake among adolescents, especially those living in boarding school environments.

Keywords : Adolescent girls, calcium intake, premenstrual syndrome

  1. Alquaiz, A., Albugami, M., Kazi, A., Alshobaili, F., Habib, F., & Gold, E. B. (2022). Dietary, psychological and lifestyle factors associated with premenstrual symptoms. International Journal of Women’s Health, 14, 1709–1722. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S387259
  2. Arab, A., Rafie, N., Askari, G., & Taghiabadi, M. (2020). Beneficial role of calcium in premenstrual syndrome: A systematic review of current literature. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 11, Article 156. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_243_19
  3. Asare, J., Lim, J. J., & Amoah, I. (2024). Low dietary diversity and low haemoglobin status in Ghanaian female boarding and day senior high school students: A cross-sectional study. Medicina, 60(7), Article 1045. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60071045
  4. Balk, E. M., Adam, G. P., Langberg, V. N., Earley, A., Clark, P., Ebeling, P. R., Mithal, A., Rizzoli, R., Zerbini, C. A. F., Pierroz, D. D., & Dawson-Hughes, B. (2017). Global dietary calcium intake among adults: A systematic review. Osteoporosis International, 28(12), 3315–3324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-017-4230-x
  5. Barus, V., Fuad, M., & Siregar, Z. (2024). Peran antara pola makan, aktivitas fisik, dan tingkat stres dengan kejadian premenstrual syndrome (PMS) pada remaja putri. Journal of Innovation and Community Service, 1(4), 462–473. https://jicnusantara.com/index.php/jiic
  6. Buddhabunyakan, N., Kaewrudee, S., Chongsomchai, C., Soontrapa, S., Somboonporn, W., & Sothornwit, J. (2017). Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among high school students. International Journal of Women’s Health, 9, 501–505. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S140679
  7. Chen, Z., Imai, K., & Zhou, X. (2023). The relationship between physical activity and premenstrual syndrome in senior high school students: A prospective study. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 5741. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32357-2
  8. Dewi, T. K., Hapsari, E. D., & Keperawatan Dharma Wacana Metro, A. (2019). Prevalensi gejala premenstrual syndrome (PMS) dan premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) pada remaja di Kota Yogyakarta. Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 4(1), 373–378. https://ejournal.seaninstitute.or.id/index.php/healt/article/view/672
  9. Du, C., Hsiao, P. Y., Ludy, M. J., & Tucker, R. M. (2022). Relationships between dairy and calcium intake and mental health measures of higher education students in the United States: Outcomes from moderation analyses. Nutrients, 14(4), Article 775. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14040775
  10. Fradista, A. D. (2023). Hubungan tingkat konsumsi zat gizi dan tingkat stres psikologis dengan kejadian premenstrual syndrome pada mahasiswi indekos usia 18–22 tahun di Fakultas Farmasi Universitas Airlangga. Media Gizi Kesmas, 12(1), 94–103. https://doi.org/10.20473/mgk.v12i1.2023.94-103
  11. Hashim, M. S., Obaideen, A. A., Jahrami, H. A., Radwan, H., Hamad, H. J., Owais, A. A., Alardah, L. G., Qiblawi, S., Al-Yateem, N., & Faris, M. A. I. E. (2019). Premenstrual syndrome is associated with dietary and lifestyle behaviors among university students: A cross-sectional study from Sharjah, UAE. Nutrients, 11(8), Article 1939. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081939
  12. İlçioğlu, K., Yıldırım Bayraktar, B. N., & Demirhan Kayacık, A. (2025). The effect of calcium on premenstrual syndrome: A meta-analysis study. Journal of Clinical Medicine of Kazakhstan, 22(1), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/15827
  13. Imai, A., Ichigo, S., Matsunami, K., & Takagi, H. (2015). Premenstrual syndrome: Management and pathophysiology. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology, 42(2), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog1770.2015
  14. Jelmila, S. N., Hasni, D., & Liana, N. (2023). Asupan magnesium, kalsium dan vitamin D dengan premenstrual syndrome. Jurnal Kesehatan Perintis, 10(2), 138–144.
  15. Joyce, K. M., & Stewart, S. H. (2023). The premenstrual assessment form-short form (PAF-SF): Additional psychometric analyses of a brief measure of premenstrual symptoms. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com
  16. Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (2019). Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 28 Tahun 2019 tentang angka kecukupan gizi yang dianjurkan untuk masyarakat Indonesia. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Home/Details/135005/permenkes-no-28-tahun-2019
  17. Majida, L. A., Kertasurya, M. I., Nugraheni, S. A., Margawati, A., & Noer, E. R. (2024). Individual dietary diversity score and nutritional status differences between students living in dormitory and home during COVID-19: Perbedaan keragaman pangan dan status gizi santri di asrama dan rumah selama pandemi COVID-19. Amerta Nutrition, 7(4), 527–533. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v7i4.2023.527-533
  18. Masoumi, S. Z., Ataollahi, M., & Oshvandi, K. (2016). Effect of combined use of calcium and vitamin B6 on premenstrual syndrome symptoms: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Caring Sciences, 5(1), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.15171/jcs.2016.007
  19. Masruroh, L., & Muniroh, L. (2021). The correlation between nutritional status and calcium adequacy level on the incidence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in female students at the Faculty of Public Health Universitas Airlangga. Indonesian Journal of Public Health, 16(3), 426–436. https://doi.org/10.20473/ijph.v16i3.2021.426-436
  20. Maulidiana, A. R., Qomariah, P. N., Rahmawati, S. N., Nazifa, A., Nurazizah, D. M., Chrishargyantari, T. D., Ventiyaningsih, A. D. I., & Fahmi, I. (2024). Anthropometric indices and physical activity in relation to premenstrual syndrome among female adolescents. Jurnal Gizi Indonesia, 13(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.14710/jgi.13.3.35-41
  21. Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (2014). Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 41 Tahun 2014 tentang pedoman gizi seimbang. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/119080/permenkes-no-41-tahun-2014
  22. Modzelewski, S., Oracz, A., Żukow, X., Iłendo, K., Śledzikowka, Z., & Waszkiewicz, N. (2024). Premenstrual syndrome: New insights into etiology and review of treatment methods. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, Article 1363875. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1363875
  23. Mohebbi, M., Amir Ali Akbari, S., Mahmodi, Z., & Nasiri, M. (2017). Comparison between the lifestyles of university students with and without premenstrual syndromes. Electronic Physician, 9(6), 4489–4496. https://doi.org/10.19082/4489
  24. Neda, Z. A., Indrawati, V., Ismawati, R., & Pratama, S. A. (2023). Perbedaan pola konsumsi asupan zat gizi dan status gizi siswa SMAIT Al Uswah Surabaya yang tinggal di asrama dan non-asrama. Sehat Rakyat: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 2(3), 369–379. https://doi.org/10.54259/sehatrakyat.v2i3.1776
  25. Oboza, P., Ogarek, N., Wójtowicz, M., Ben Rhaiem, T., Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, M., & Kocełak, P. (2024). Relationships between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and diet composition, dietary patterns and eating behaviors. Nutrients, 16(12), Article 1911. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121911
  26. Shi, X., Chen, M., Pan, Q., Zhou, J., Liu, Y., Jiang, T., Lin, Y., Huang, J., Shen, X., Lu, D., & Li, Y. (2024). Association between dietary patterns and premenstrual disorders: A cross-sectional analysis of 1382 college students in China. Food & Function, 15(8), 4170–4179. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO05782H
  27. Shobeiri, F., Araste, F. E., Ebrahimi, R., Jenabi, E., & Nazari, M. (2017). Effect of calcium on premenstrual syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology Science, 60(1), 100–105. https://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2017.60.1.100
  28. Thakur, H., Pareek, P., Sayyad, M. G., & Otiv, S. (2022). Association of premenstrual syndrome with adiposity and nutrient intake among young Indian women. International Journal of Women’s Health, 14, 665–675. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S359458
  29. Weaver, C. M., & Peacock, M. (2019). Calcium. Advances in Nutrition, 10(3), 546–548. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy086
  30. Yonkers, K. A., & Simoni, M. K. (2018). Premenstrual disorders. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 218(1), 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.045

Open Access Copyright (c) 2026 Syaleisha Yasmine Razi, Yudi Feriandi, Yafma Femin Helta Heriady, Eva Rianti Indrasari, Mirasari Putri
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

AcTion: Aceh Nutrition Journal
Published by: Department of Nutrition at the Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Ministry of Health.
Soekarno-Hatta Street, No. 168. Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Aceh Besar, 23352. Telp/Fax: 0651 46126 / 0651 46121.
Website: https://gizipoltekkesaceh.ac.id/
E-mail: jurnal6121@gmail.com

e-issn: 2548-5741, p-issn: 2527-3310

All content is licensed under a: Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International License

View My Stats

Get a feed by atom here, RRS2 here and OAI Links here