Survey study, 2004
Does what you eat affect premenstrual symptoms?
Eating more fat was linked with worse premenstrual symptoms, while eating more carbohydrate-rich foods was linked with fewer symptoms. Soy products had no clear link to symptoms.
What they did
Researchers studied 189 Japanese women aged 19-34. They asked about diet using a food frequency questionnaire and measured premenstrual symptoms, comparing symptoms between different phases of the menstrual cycle.
What they found
Soy products and isoflavones were not significantly linked to premenstrual symptoms. High intake of total, saturated, and monounsaturated fats was linked with worse total symptoms and more pain. Low intake of carbohydrate-rich foods was linked with worse symptoms.
What it means for you
Diet may play a role in premenstrual symptoms, particularly fat and carbohydrate intake. The study only included Japanese women in colleges and nursing schools, so findings may not apply to other populations.
189
Japanese women studied
19-34
age range
High fat intake
linked with worse symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Soy, fat and other dietary factors in relation to premenstrual symptoms in Japanese women
- Authors
- Nagata C, Hirokawa K, Shimizu N et al.
- Journal
- BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Diet and soy intake (observed, not tested)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00130.x
Topics
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