--- title: Is diet quality lower in teenagers with PMS? | Niyora description: Yes. Teenagers with PMS have lower diet quality scores. Better diet quality was linked to less anxiety, depression, and sleep problems in girls with PMS. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/diet-quality-in-adolescents-with-premenstrual-syndrome-a-cross-sectional-study-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is diet quality lower in teenagers with PMS? Case-control study, 2020 # Is diet quality lower in teenagers with PMS? Yes. Teenagers with PMS have lower diet quality scores. Better diet quality was linked to less anxiety, depression, and sleep problems in girls with PMS. Moderate study design 272 female high school students aged 13-18 ## What they did Case-control study of 272 female students aged 13-18. PMS was diagnosed using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale over 2 consecutive months. Diet was assessed using 24-hour recall. A Healthy Eating Index score measured diet quality. Body measurements were recorded. ## What they found PMS was diagnosed in 56.9% of the sample. The mean Healthy Eating Index score was significantly lower in the PMS group (47.5 plus or minus 23.95) compared to the control group (53.5 plus or minus 20.98), p = 0.034. In the PMS group, anxiety (p = 0.009), depressive feelings (p = 0.016), and changes in sleeping pattern (p = 0.000) were associated with lower diet quality. No significant differences in body measurements were found. ## What it means for you Teenagers with PMS eat lower quality diets. Better diet quality was linked to fewer anxiety, depression, and sleep symptoms in girls with PMS. The study measured diet and symptoms at one point, so it cannot prove diet causes better mood. 56.9% of students with PMS 47.5 vs 53.5 Healthy Eating Index score p = 0.034 difference in diet quality ## About the study Original title Diet quality in adolescents with premenstrual syndrome: A cross-sectional study Authors Isgin-Atici K, Kanbur N, Akgül S et al. Journal Nutrition & dietetics : the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia Year 2020 Study design Case-control study Participants 272 What was tested Comparison of diet quality scores between students with and without PMS Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12515](https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12515) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[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 Survey study, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Survey study, 2019 What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMDD in Russian medical students, and what are its symptoms? Survey study, 2026 Does eating more ultra-processed food make PMS symptoms worse? Cohort study, 2025 Does PMS affect mental health and sleep-wake cycles? Survey study, 2025 Are violent tendencies linked to premenstrual symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗