Diet quality in adolescents with premenstrual syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Diet quality and anxiety: a critical overview with focus on the gut microbiome

Anxiety disorders disproportionally affect females and are frequently comorbid with eating disorders. With the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry, focus has been put on the impact of diet quality in anxiety pathophysiology and gut microbiome underlying mechanisms. While the relationship between diet and anxiety is bidirectional, improving dietary habits could better facilitate the actions of pharmacological and psychological therapies, or prevent their use. A better understanding of how gut bacteria mediate and moderate such relationship could further contribute to develop personalized programs and inform probiotics and prebiotics manufacturing. To date, studies that look simultaneously at diet, the gut microbiome, and anxiety are missing as only pairwise relationships among them have been investigated. Therefore, this study aims at summarizing and integrating the existing knowledge on the dietary effects on anxiety with focus on gut microbiome. Findings on the effects of diet on anxiety are critically summarized and reinterpreted in relation to findings on (i) the effects of diet on the gut microbiome composition, and (ii) the associations between the abundance of certain gut bacteria and anxiety. This novel interpretation suggests a theoretical model where the relationship between diet and anxiety is mediated and/or modulated by the gut microbiome through multiple mechanisms. In parallel, this study critically evaluates methodologies employed in the nutritional field to investigate the effects of diet on anxiety highlighting a lack of systematic operationalization and assessment strategies. Therefore, it ultimately proposes a novel evidence-based approach that can enhance studies validity, reliability, systematicity, and translation to clinical and community settings.

Online positive-oriented counseling, taking vitamin D3 tablet, online lifestyle modification training on premenstrual syndrome: a 3-armed randomized clinical trial

Lack of absolute treatment for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), its cyclic nature, considerable prevalence (70-90%), and its mental and physical burden imply necessity of effectiveness comparison of various treatments. Although antidepressant and hormonal drugs are well-known medications for PMS, in affected women who can't tolerate, or don't have compatibility or compliance with these drugs, other effective treatments have always been important concern. This study aimed to compare effectiveness of online positive-oriented counseling, taking vitamin D3 tablet, and online lifestyle modification training on alleviating PMS. 3-armed parallel randomized clinical trial was performed on 84 20-40-year-old eligible women with PMS. 84 women were randomly ( www.random.org/sequenc ) allocated into three groups, but data of 77 women (1, n = 25) online positive-oriented counseling group (6 sessions), (2, n = 27) vitamin D3 tablet group (one vitamin D3 tablet weekly for 6 weeks), and (3, n = 25) online lifestyle training group (6 sessions) were analyzed. Vitamin D3 was measured at baseline, week6 and fallow up week10. Primary outcome variable PMS was measured with Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) at baseline, week 6, and follow-up week 10. Primary outcome satisfaction with intervention method was measured using satisfaction scale at week 6 and follow-up week 10. ANOVA, Repeated Measures, and Paired samples t-test were used for statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in PMS at baseline between three groups respectively (33 ± 5.8, 34.1 ± 7.1, & 35.2 ± 6.4, P = 0.500). However, at follow-up week 10, there was statistically significant difference between three groups (22.3 ± 4.3, 25.4 ± 6.5, & 31.8 ± 6.5; P < 0.001), with greatest improvement in online positive-oriented counseling group (P < 0.001). Satisfaction differed significantly among three groups at week 6 (51 ± 6.8, 46.4 ± 12, & 42.3 ± 6.3, P = 0.001) and follow-up week 10 (55.7 ± 11.6, 51.4 ± 12; & 43 ± 3.3, P < 0.001), with most satisfaction in positive-oriented counseling group (P < 0.001). All three interventions alleviated PMS, but online positive-oriented counseling was more effective and satisfying. Superiority of positive-oriented counseling implies mechanism of adaptation, better relationships, forgiveness, self-mood-regulation, and feasibility of its skills that could be continued individually by women after counseling completion. It is recommended health providers, health policymakers and managers support use of these interventions in treatment program and clinical guidelines.Trial registration: RCT registration number: IRCT20191231045967N1, Registration date:11/02/2020, Registration timing: prospective (IRCT | Survey the effect of vitamin D3 tablet intake, positivism group consulting with changing in life style in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome in women).

The prevalence, risk factors and lifestyle patterns of Jordanian females with premenstrual syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Aim

The study aims to assess factors associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and the frequency of using painkillers to relieve premenstrual pain.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 1580 premenopausal women. An online self-administered questionnaire consists of sociodemographics, and the diagnostic criteria using the Arabic Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (A-PMS).

Results

The prevalence of PMS among Jordanian females was 94%. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between several factors, including BMI, family history of PMS, smoking, and herbal tea consumption and the psychological, physical and behavioral symptoms of PMS. Furthermore, analgesic use for pain relief and food cravings were significantly associated with psychological, physical and behavioral PMS symptoms.

Conclusion

PMS is highly prevalent and affects women in different life aspects.

Sleep Quality in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome-Related Variables

In this study, we examined whether metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related variables are simultaneously affected by sleep quality, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dietary consumption. In this cross-sectional study, data for 307 premenopausal women were available. The results showed that women experiencing PMS had significantly lower sleep quality and were more depressed and anxious (p < 0.001 for all). After the subjects were divided into groups according to PMS, the effect of sleep quality on MetS-related variables or MetS components significantly differed; only among women who experienced PMS were poor sleepers significantly higher in waist circumference (p = 0.018) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.012) than good sleepers. Among the MetS components, abdominal obesity in women with poor sleep quality was approximately three (16.9% vs. 3.0%, p= 0.020) times more common than in those with good sleep quality. However, these findings were not observed among those who did not experience PMS. Poor sleepers among women experiencing PMS consumed 2.8 times more alcoholic drinks than good sleepers (p = 0.006). The MetS-related variables in Korean women experiencing PMS are associated with sleep quality, and these associations may be modified by dietary habits.

Do dietary habits affect the premenstrual syndrome severity among a cohort of Egyptian females? A cross-sectional study

Background

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is considered a common recurring emotional as well as physical disorder which has an effect on the women’s quality of life. Results of previous studies about the relationship between PMS and food intake are contradicted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the PMS and food consumption in menstrual females. The study was carried out in the Outpatient Physiotherapy Department Clinic in Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. The study was carried out from October 2021 to March 2022. One-hundred participants that were having PMS enrolled into this study (n = 100) with a mean age of 27.1 ± 4.98 and a mean BMI of 26.4 ± 4.5. The PMS scale was used to assess the degree of PMS, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was applied to evaluate the food consumption.

Results

A total of 16% of females had mild PMS, 60% had moderate, and 24% had severe PMS. There was a significant relationship between PMS severity and specific food consumption as consumption of tubers as well as fish and seafood (p = 0.03 & p = 0.008, respectively). There was a significant inverse correlation between PMS severity and the fish and seafood consumption, while there was no significant correlation between the PMS severity and tuber consumption. However, there was no significant relationship between PMS and grains, dairy products, caffeine intake, fat intake, sweets, vegetables, fruits, seasonings, and pickles.

Conclusion

The present study suggested that severity of PMS might be affected by specific dietary habits. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between PMS and amount of food consumption.

Factors associated with the severity of premenstrual symptoms in women with central obesity: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition that affects social and psychological well-being of women. The risk of PMS is higher among obese women. The aim of this study was to identify the factors that influence the severity of PMS in women with central obesity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on 30-50 year-old women with abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 80 cm). The following data were collected: demographic data, anthropometric measurements, premenstrual symptoms screening tools, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, 42-item depression, anxiety, and stress questionnaire (DASS-42), as well as serum vitamin D, and renal function tests.

RESULTS

A total of 139 women (mean age of 41.40 ± 7.39 years old) participated in the study. The prevalence of mild, moderate and severe premenstrual symptoms was 38.7% (55/142), 31.7% (45/142) and 27.5% (39/142), respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of anthropometric measurements and energy-adjusted nutrient intakes (p > 0.05). There was a significant relationship between moderate PMS and energy-adjusted saturated fatty acid (SFA) (p = .018, OR = .010 and 95% CI for OR: < .001 and .452), and energy-adjusted riboflavin (p = .042, OR = .005, 95% CI for OR: < .001 and .821), and between severe PMS and age (p = .034, OR = .906, 95% CI for OR: .826 and .993), and energy-adjusted monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake (p = .041, OR = 23.789, 95% CI for OR: 1.138 and 497.294).

CONCLUSION

High intakes of MUFA and younger age were associated with a greater severity of PMS, while riboflavin intake was associated with reduced PMS severity.

Dietary, Psychological and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Premenstrual Symptoms

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.

Premenstrual Syndrome Is Associated with Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Sharjah, UAE

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclical late luteal phase disorder of the menstrual cycle whereby the daily functioning of women is affected by emotional and physical symptoms substantially interfering with their quality of life. Little is known about PMS in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of PMS among university students in Sharjah, UAE, and clarify its associations with dietary habits, lifestyle behaviors, and anthropometric factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on female college students at the University of Sharjah, UAE. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric assessments. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Participants were 300 adult university students aged 18-24 years (mean age 20.07 ± 1.53 years). In total, 95% of participants reported at least one PMS symptom during their menstrual period. The prevalence of PMS was 35.3%, with mild symptoms being the most commonly reported. Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking was associated with increased risk of reporting psychological (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.8; p < 0.05) and behavioral symptoms (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.9; p < 0.05), while high calorie/fat/sugar/salt foods intake was associated with increased risk of reporting physical symptoms (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.3; p < 0.05). However, fruit consumption (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.125-0.92; p < 0.05) was associated with a decreased risk of reporting behavioral symptoms. A high prevalence of PMS was reported among university students, with smoking and high calorie/fat/sugar/salt food consumption identified as strong risk factors for PMS.