--- title: Does a low-fat vegetarian diet reduce period pain and premenstrual symptoms? description: Yes. The diet increased a hormone-binding protein that reduces active estrogen, lowered body weight, and decreased both period pain duration and premenstrual url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/diet-and-sex-hormone-binding-globulin-dysmenorrhea-and-premenstrual-symptoms-2000/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does a low-fat vegetarian diet reduce period pain and premenstrual symptoms? Randomised trial, 2000 # Does a low-fat vegetarian diet reduce period pain and premenstrual symptoms? Yes. The diet increased a hormone-binding protein that reduces active estrogen, lowered body weight, and decreased both period pain duration and premenstrual symptoms. Moderate study design 33 women ## What they did 33 women in a crossover study followed a low-fat vegetarian diet for two menstrual cycles, then returned to their usual diet plus a placebo pill for two cycles. Researchers measured diet intake, hormone levels, body weight, pain severity, and premenstrual symptoms throughout. ## What they found During the diet phase, sex-hormone binding globulin was higher at 46.7 nmol/L compared to 39.3 nmol/L on usual diet. Body weight was lower at 66.1 kg versus 67.9 kg. Period pain duration decreased from 3.9 days to 2.7 days. Pain intensity was lower on worst, second-worst, and third-worst days. Premenstrual concentration, mood changes, and water retention were significantly reduced. ## What it means for you A low-fat vegetarian diet may help reduce period pain and premenstrual symptoms by increasing a protein that binds to active estrogen. However, diet involves many factors and lifestyle changes, so effects are moderate. 33 women studied 2.7 period pain days on diet 46.7 SHBG nmol/L on diet ## About the study Original title Diet and sex-hormone binding globulin, dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual symptoms Authors Barnard ND, Scialli AR, Hurlock D et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 2000 Study design Randomised trial Participants 33 What was tested Low-fat vegetarian diet for two menstrual cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(99)00525-6](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(99)00525-6) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Case-control study, 2014 How common is severe period pain and what causes it? Survey study, 2026 What menstrual cycle symptoms do people experience and how much do they interfere with daily life? Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Randomised trial, 2025 Does cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy reduce period pain and PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2019 What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗