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Survey study, 2022

Do vegetarians have worse PMS than non-vegetarians?

Possibly. Symptoms were slightly more severe in vegetarians (9%) compared to non-vegetarians (5%), though the study does not explain why and found no link between BMI and PMS severity.

Early or limited evidence Staff and students at a medical college in India

What they did

Staff and students at a medical college completed a questionnaire about their diet pattern and PMS symptoms.

What they found

PMS was more common in younger women aged 18-25 years (57%) than in older women aged 26-49 years (43%). Symptoms were slightly more severe among vegetarians (9%) compared to non-vegetarians (5%). There was no correlation between PMS severity and BMI.

What it means for you

Younger women may have more noticeable PMS. Vegetarians may have slightly worse symptoms, but the reasons are unclear and may involve other dietary factors not measured. The study was limited to one medical college, and the small sample reduces confidence in these findings.

57%

young women (18-25 years) with PMS

43%

older women (26-49 years) with PMS

9% vs 5%

severe PMS in vegetarians vs non-vegetarians

About the study

Original title
Determination of severity of premenstrual syndrome among vegetarian and non-vegetarian women
Authors
Suparna Ghosh, K Roopashree, Prithika Shree Ragothaman et al.
Journal
National Journal of Physiology Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Year
2022
Study design
Survey study
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes

Topics