Survey study, 2011
Does quitting caffeine cause different withdrawal symptoms in different menstrual cycle phases?
Caffeine withdrawal caused some symptoms in both phases, but the pattern was similar. Menstrual cycle phase did not change the severity of withdrawal symptoms or thinking and motor performance.
What they did
48 women aged 18-25 who regularly drank caffeine stopped caffeine for 24 hours twice: once during their follicular phase (around day 5 of cycle) and once during their luteal phase (about 4 days after ovulation). Researchers measured withdrawal symptoms and tested their thinking and motor skills.
What they found
Withdrawal did cause symptom ratings on some days of abstinence compared to days without abstinence in both phases. However, the pattern of withdrawal symptoms and performance on thinking and motor tasks did not differ between follicular and luteal phases.
What it means for you
Caffeine withdrawal appears similar throughout the menstrual cycle. The study excluded women with PMS, so results may not apply to them. The sample was small and young.
48
women studied
18-25
age range
24 hours
abstinence period
About the study
- Original title
- Caffeine Abstinence During The Menstrual Cycle:An Evaluation Of Mood, Somatic, Cognitive, And Psychomotor Effects Of Withdrawal
- Authors
- Hoa T. Vo
- Journal
- The Internet Journal of Pharmacology
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- 24 hours of caffeine abstinence during both follicular and luteal phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.5580/60c
Topics
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