Case-control study, 2022
Do hunger hormones and eating patterns differ between women with and without PMS?
Yes. Women with PMS eat more calories and carbohydrates in the luteal phase (days before their period), while women without PMS do not. Hunger hormones work differently in the two groups.
What they did
Case-control study of 69 women aged 20-45 with regular cycles. 35 had PMS, 34 did not. PMS was diagnosed using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems scale over 2 months. Food intake was tracked with 12 food records over 2 menstrual cycles. Blood leptin and ghrelin levels were measured.
What they found
In women with PMS, calorie intake was higher in the luteal phase than follicular phase (p = 0.004). Carbohydrate intake was also higher in luteal phase (p = 0.003). These patterns did not appear in women without PMS (p greater than 0.05). There was a marginal negative relationship between ghrelin and calorie intake in the follicular phase in the PMS group (rS = -0.314, p = 0.066). There was a negative relationship between ghrelin and leptin in the luteal phase in the non-PMS group (rS = -0.490, p = 0.004).
What it means for you
Women with PMS show changes in eating and hunger hormones that women without PMS do not. This may explain cravings for carbs before the period. The study is moderate-sized but observational, so it cannot prove hormones cause the eating changes.
35
women with PMS
34
women without PMS
p = 0.004
calorie intake higher in luteal phase
About the study
- Original title
- Leptin, ghrelin, & insulin levels and food intake in premenstrual syndrome: A case-control study
- Authors
- Gallon CW, Ferreira CF, Henz A et al.
- Journal
- Appetite
- Year
- 2022
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 69
- What was tested
- Tracking of hunger hormones and diet across menstrual cycle phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105750
Topics
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