Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40257970›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

Vitamin D for primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis-related pain - A systematic review of registered RCTs.

Iris Wenyu Zhou, Anthony Lin Zhang, Miranda Sin-Man Tsang, Charlie C Xue

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Iris Wenyu ZhouThe China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Anthony Lin ZhangThe China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Miranda Sin-Man TsangThe China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2416-0714
Charlie C XueThe China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6937-9088

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis systematic review investigates the potential role of vitamin D supplement in alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea or endometriosis by analysing registered randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

methodsWe comprehensively searched the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to identify registered RCTs that assessed the effects of vitamin D supplement on pain outcomes in people with primary dysmenorrhea or endometriosis. The primary outcomes of interest were pain severity/intensity, pain duration, pain medication usage and pain-related outcome measurements.

resultsSeven registered RCTs were included in this systematic review. These RCTs had diverse doses and treatment durations of vitamin D supplement used as intervention. They also had either high or some concerns of risk of bias, according to Cochrane risk of bias version 2 assessment. Substantial heterogeneities were generally observed across the seven RCTs. When measured using a validated tool visual analogue scale (VAS), pain severity was significantly lower at the end of treatment when compared with placebo (mean difference MD -1.12, 95% confidence interval [-2.16, -0.07], I2=81%, 5 studies, n = 308). This significant difference was observed in the primary dysmenorrhea RCTs, but not the endometriosis RCTs.

conclusionThis systematic review identified vitamin D may reduce pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea, though a low certainty of evidence was available. Future studies that use standardised doses and treatment duration in accordance with the latest clinical practice guidelines are needed to explore any potential benefits vitamin D may have for people with these conditions.

Indexed as

DysmenorrheaEndometriosisPainVitamin DDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansPain MeasurementRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID40257970
PMCPMC12011270

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.