How much do lifestyle and diet affect PMS symptoms?

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) imposes significant physical and psychosocial burden on women, with growing recognition of lifestyle and dietary behaviors as important determinants of its severity. However, data from South Asian populations remain limited. Objective: To assess the relationship between lifestyle patterns, dietary intake, and PMS symptom burden among women in District Sialkot. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 200 women aged 18–45 years using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, menstrual history, anthropometrics, dietary practices, sunlight exposure, supplement use, and PMS symptoms. Symptom frequency was recorded on a three-point scale, and associations between risk factors and PMS prevalence were analyzed using chi-square tests and odds ratios. Results: The most frequent symptoms included fatigue (70%), food cravings (68%), breast tenderness (65%), and mood swings (60%). Only 35% of women reported daily dairy intake, 28% consumed calcium-rich foods, 20% consumed vitamin D-rich foods, and 30% had adequate sunlight exposure, while supplement use was <20%. PMS prevalence rose progressively with the accumulation of lifestyle risk factors, from 25% in women with none to 90% in those with four, with significant dose–response trends. Conclusion: Lifestyle and dietary inadequacies strongly predict PMS symptom burden, highlighting the need for community-based nutritional and behavioral interventions to mitigate this condition.

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