Data from the ongoing Nurses’ Health Study II suggests that a high intake of calcium and vitamin D can cut the risk of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) by up to 41 percent.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts analysed information from more than 3,000 women who had no symptoms of PMS when they joined the study in 1991. In the years since then, 1,057 developed PMS while another 1,968 didn’t. When the research team analysed food frequency questionnaires completed by the women in 1991, 1995 and 1999 they found that those whose diets provided 1,200 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D from food sources were much less likely to develop PMS.