Dietary, Psychological and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Premenstrual Symptoms

Abstract

Purpose To measure the associations of diet, psycological distress, and lifestyle factors with premenstrual symptoms (PMSx) in women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods An interview-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 1831 women aged 18–50 years seen in primary healthcare centers and teaching institutes in Riyadh from December 2015 to June 2016. Question topics included sociodemographics, physical activity, smoking, and dietary habits information. PMSx were assessed using a symptom checklist with 6 domains: anxiety/mood changes; abdominal/back/joint pain; increased appetite/weight gain, breast pain/tenderness, severe headache, and ≥3 PMS symptoms (any). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to provide adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with each PMSx domain. Results Except for breast pain, drinking >5 cups of Arabic coffee was associated with increased odds of anxiety/mood [aOR 2.44 (95% CI 1.44, 4.12)], pain [1.83 (1.13, 2.98)], appetite/weight gain [1.66 (1.10, 2.50)], headache [1.57 (1.00, 2.56)] and ≥3 symptoms [1.50 (1.07, 2.11)]. A significant association was noted between sugar intake and anxiety/mood symptoms [1.53 (1.07, 2.19)] and abdominal/back pain symptoms [1.84 (1.17, 2.88)]. Increased severity of psychological distress was associated with all symptom domains: anxiety/mood [2.75 (1.92, 3.94)]; pain [1.45 (0.92, 2.28)]; appetite/weight gain [2.01 (1.53, 2.65)]; breast pain [2.19 (1.68, 2.88)]; headache [1.86 (1.37, 2.54)] and ≥3 symptoms [3.52 (2.49, 4.95)]. Low physical activity was significantly associated with odds of breast pain symptoms [1.29 (1.04, 1.59)]. Smokers were 3.41 (1.19, 9.77) times as likely to report any ≥3 symptoms compared to nonsmokers. Conclusion Several potentially modifiable factors, such as diet and stress, were positively associated with PMSx. Thus, we suggest that increasing women’s awareness of healthy lifestyles, particularly diet and stress reduction, may help to reduce the occurrence of premenstrual symptoms.

The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome symptoms and associated factors among female medical students at Al-Andalus University: a cross-sectional study

“…The current study found no significant association between daily physical exercise and PMS symptoms, which is consistent with the results of Hashim et al 26 Contrary to AlQuaiz et al who found a significant association between low physical exercise and breast pain. 29 Participants who suffered from heavy menstrual bleeding had a higher prevalence of certain reported symptoms, such as abdominal pain and headaches. This is in line with Kamat et al who reported that menorrhagia was related to PMS.…”

Diet and Women: A Complex Relationship That We Need to Know Better [Letter]

“…We read with great interest the manuscript “Dietary, Psychological and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Premenstrual Symptoms” by AlQuaiz A and coworkers 1 and found it extremely important from the point of view of the impact of lifestyle on premenstrual symptoms.…”

Determining the Relationship Between Adherence to DASH Diet and Premenstrual Syndrome

“…29 Yapılan başka bir araştırmada ise PMS semptomları arasında yer alan anksiyete ve duygudurum bozuklukları ve karın/bel ağrıları ile basit şeker alımı arasında pozitif ilişki saptanmıştır (sırasıyla OR: 1,53; %95 CI = 1,07-2,19, p<0,05; OR: 1,84; %95 CI = 1,17-2,88, p < 0,05). 30 Batı tarzı beslenme düzeni, akut ve kronik inflamasyonla yakından ilişkilidir. Yapılan çalışmalarda PMS'li kadınlarda inflamatuar belirteçlerin (örn.…”