---
title: Are sugary foods and drinks linked to premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: Among women with severe PMS, eating chocolate was linked to PMS while other junk foods were not. Drinking alcohol, fruit juice, and caffeine-free soda were al
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-and-severity-of-the-premenstrual-syndrome-effects-of-foods-and-1991/
---

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- Are sugary foods and drinks linked to premenstrual syndrome?

Survey study, 1991

# Are sugary foods and drinks linked to premenstrual syndrome?

Among women with severe PMS, eating chocolate was linked to PMS while other junk foods were not. Drinking alcohol, fruit juice, and caffeine-free soda were all linked to PMS in these women, with associations holding even when caffeine intake was controlled for.

 Early or limited evidence

Female university students in Oregon (853 responses)

## What they did

Researchers mailed a questionnaire to female university students in Oregon asking about their menstrual health and daily diet, particularly their consumption of sugary and sweet foods and drinks. They analyzed 853 responses to see which foods and drinks were linked to PMS.

## What they found

Chocolate consumption was related to PMS prevalence in women with more severe symptoms, but other junk foods were not. Alcoholic beverages (all types and beer specifically), fruit juice, and caffeine-free soda were also related to PMS in women with more severe symptoms. These associations remained significant even when daily caffeine intake was controlled for.

## What it means for you

If you have PMS, eating sugary foods and drinks may make symptoms worse, though this is more noticeable in women with severe symptoms. We don't know if sugar actually causes worse PMS or if women experiencing worse symptoms eat more sweets. Limited to university students in Oregon and relies on self-reported diet and symptoms.

853

women surveyed

## About the study

Original title Prevalence and severity of the premenstrual syndrome. Effects of foods and beverages that are sweet or high in sugar content Authors Rossignol AM, Bonnlander H Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1991 Study design Survey study What was tested none tested Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2010896/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2010896/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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