Study, 2015
Does the menstrual cycle affect how much Chinese women eat and their taste preferences?
Yes, some changes occur. In the first cycle studied, women ate less fat and preferred sweet taste less in the second half of the cycle. In the second cycle, sweet taste preference was higher during menstruation.
What they did
Studied 31 healthy young Chinese women with regular menstrual cycles. Measured body weight, body composition, food intake, resting metabolic rate, PMS severity, and taste preference for sugar during three phases: menstruation, early follicular, and luteal. Some women were measured over one cycle and others over two cycles.
What they found
In the first cycle, all women had less energy and fat intake and less taste preference for sweet in the luteal phase compared to early follicular phase. No differences were found in carbohydrate or protein intake or PMS score in the first cycle. In women measured over two cycles, taste preference for sweet and PMS score were higher during menstruation in the second cycle. Energy and nutrient intake did not change in the second cycle. Resting metabolic rate was similar across all phases.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle does affect eating and taste in Chinese women, but the changes are not consistent across cycles. It is unclear whether these eating changes cause weight gain. More research is needed in different groups of women and over longer time periods.
31
women in the study
18
women measured over one cycle
13
women measured over two cycles
About the study
- Original title
- The influence of the menstrual cycle on energy balance and taste preference in Asian Chinese women
- Authors
- Elliott SA, Ng J, Leow MK et al.
- Journal
- European journal of nutrition
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 31
- What was tested
- None (observational measurement across menstrual phases)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0812-y
Topics
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