Cohort study, 2016
Do women eat differently at different times in their menstrual cycle?
Women eat more protein and report stronger food cravings during the second half of the cycle (luteal phase), especially for chocolate, sweets, and salt.
What they did
Prospective cohort study of 259 healthy women age 18-44 followed for up to 2 cycles. Women reported what they ate using four 24-hour recalls per cycle, timed to menstruation, mid-follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase. They also answered questions about food cravings at each time point.
What they found
Protein intake was highest during mid-luteal phase compared to around ovulation (p=0.03). Animal protein showed the same pattern (p=0.05). Appetite increased significantly during late luteal phase. Cravings for chocolate, sweets, salty foods, and total food cravings all increased in late luteal phase (p<0.001).
What it means for you
Women's bodies naturally seek more protein and report more cravings in the luteal phase regardless of whether ovulation occurred. Main limits are that diet and cravings are self-reported (potentially unreliable) and the study included women from one region and time period.
259
Number of women
2
Menstrual cycles followed
P < 0.001
Significance of food cravings in late luteal phase
About the study
- Original title
- Changes in macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group intakes throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy, premenopausal women
- Authors
- Gorczyca AM, Sjaarda LA, Mitchell EM et al.
- Journal
- European journal of nutrition
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 259
- What was tested
- None; observational study tracking diet and cravings across the cycle
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0931-0
Topics
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