Effect of Dietary Habits and Socio-economic Status on Menstrual Disorders among Young Females

Abstract

Abstract:Menstruation is very important phase of reproductive cycle which involves many hormonal changes. Hormone production is known to be affected by diet. Poor nutrition in female diet can affect menstrual cycle and lead to menstrual disorders and pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). A cross-sectional study was undertaken to analyze the association of dietary habits and socio-economic status with menstrual disorders among the college going and young working females of Amritsar, Punjab, India during the month of Jan-March 2013. Students who did not attain menarche; were suffering from any chronic health condition or using any medicines for long duration (more than a month) were excluded from the study. A total of 100 females were selected, among 300 surveyed, for this study and each student was given a questionnaire to complete. Majority of the females (87%) belong to middle socio-economic status, having higher prevalence of menstrual disorders due to sedentary lifestyle and western dietary habits. Greater prevalence of menstrual disorders was observed in vegetarian women as compared to non-vegetarian women except for dysmenorrhea. Prevalence of menorrhagia was higher (56.25% vs. 32.69%) in women not taking salad daily while percentages of menorrhagia (44.68% vs. 43.40%) as well as oligomenorrhea (46.81% vs. 45.28%) were found higher in women not eating fruits daily. 93% respondents took junk food and a positive association was observed between consumption of junk food and menstrual disorders.

Menstrual abnormalities and their association with lifestyle pattern in adolescent girls of Garhwal, India

“…[ 5 20 ] The diet limitation and skipping breakfast lead gynecological problems[ 6 ] specifically the hormonal changes which cause menstrual disorders in most of the females. [ 21 ] This study clearly indicates that dysmenorrhea not only affected by the dietary habit but also with the physical activity. This study supporting the fact that there was a positive correlation between the lower risk of dysmenorrhea and followed regular exercise and healthy physical activity for adolescent girls.…”

The Effect of Micronutrients on Pain Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…19 Poor diet and lifestyle have a key role in menstrual cycle and its hormonal changes in women. 20 Women experience menstrual disorders because of nutrition status. 21 Nowadays dietary pattern is an alternative valuable approach in risk of different disorders.…”

Understanding menstrual characteristics from the perspective of reproductive energetics: a study on the adolescent Oraon tribal populations

“…The fat cells release leptin hormone, which is required at a specific level to send signal to the hypothalamus for carrying out menstrual activity (Obert et al 2016;Osman 2016). Individuals with low body fat percentages potentially cause hormonal disturbance, leading to leading to longer menstrual cycles, irregular periods, painful periods and even cessation of the cycle (Tena-Sempere 2014; Randhawa et al 2016;Sherly 2017). For example, lower level of body mass due to negative energy balance will cause low levels of estradiol and therefore interruption in menstrual cycle length (Kirchengast and Huber 2004;Miller et al 2004;Ziomkiewicz et al 2008).…”

“…Scholars argue that restricted positive energy balance during adolescent period of growth may result into low Body Mass Index (BMI) (Petridou et al 1996; Key et al 2001), which subsequently attributes to the ovarian hormone levels (Kirchengast and Huber 2004;Miller et al 2004;Ziomkiewicz et al 2008). Several studies suggest that women with low body fat percentages, owing to poor-calorie intake led to several menstrual irregularities, including short duration of menstrual bleeding, infrequent periods, abnormally painful periods, and even cessation of the cycle (Tena-Sempere 2007; Randhawa et al 2016;Sherly 2017). Other studies reported a J-shaped relationship between BMI and ovulatory disorders, like painful, irregular and even absence of menstruation (Parimalavalli and Sangeetha 2011;Mukherjee 2014;Jena et al 2017).…”