Association between Hardness (Difficulty of Chewing) of the Habitual Diet and Premenstrual Symptoms in Young Japanese Women

Cross-Sectional Association between Estimated Hardness of the Habitual Diet and Depressive Symptoms in Older Japanese Men

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between dietary hardness and depressive symptoms in older Japanese men. Participants were 1487 men aged 60-69 years enrolled in the baseline survey of the Hitachi Health Study II (2017-2020). Habitual dietary intake was estimated by a brief-type, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary hardness was defined as the magnitude of masticatory muscle activity necessary to consume solid foods. The participants who scored ≥ 9 points on a short version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were considered to have depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 12.7%. The ORs (95% CIs) for depressive symptoms in the third tertile of dietary hardness were significantly lower after adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables and mood-modulating nutrients (ORs [95% CIs]: 0.93 [0.63, 1.36] and 0.58 [0.35, 0.97] for the second and third tertile, respectively [p-value for trend = 0.04]). Dietary hardness was inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms in older Japanese men. Future studies should confirm these findings and clarify the role of consuming a hard diet in preventing depressive disorders.

Lifestyle Factors Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study of Japanese High School Students

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationships between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and lifestyle, sleep, and dietary habits among Japanese high school students.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Two public high schools in Sendai, the largest city in northeastern Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

A school-based survey was conducted among 1818 female Japanese high school students in 2015, and 1022 students with regular menstrual cycles (25-38 days) completed the questionnaire.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Relationships between PMS and lifestyle, sleep, and dietary habits.

RESULTS

The rates of moderate to severe PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder were 9.7% (99/1022) and 2.2% (22/1022), respectively. A total of 121 students (11.9%) were classified as having PMS-the PMS(+) group. Significant differences were observed between the PMS(+) group and those without PMS-the PMS(-) group-in age at menarche (P = .022), menstrual pain (P < .001), hypnagogic disorder (P < .001), long Internet use time (P < .001), eating breakfast (P = .018), chewing well (P = .037), and belonging to a sports club (P = .046). Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for PMS were menstrual pain (odds ratio [OR], 4.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.83-7.95), hypnagogic disorder (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.47-3.35), stress fracture (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.21-3.98), and Internet use time (OR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001-1.005). Belonging to a sports club decreased the risk of PMS (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.91).

CONCLUSION

Sleep, dietary habits, belonging to a sports club, and screen time affect PMS among high school students.

Does Spousal Support Can Decrease Women's Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms?

Premenstrual syndrome is a syndrome that includes behavioral and physical symptoms occurring in the second half of the menstrual cycle and this syndrome affects millions of women universal. With regard to the importance of spouse participation in promoting reproductive and women’s health, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational intervention for spouse on women’s premenstrual syndrome symptoms. This quasi -experimental study was down with the participation of 100 women of reproductive age with PMS were referred to health centers Falavarjan city in 2015. Women were divided randomly into two groups as intervention and control. Educational intervention about supportive behaviors to control premenstrual symptoms was performed for spouses during the three educational sessions in the intervention group. Data was obtained with self-administered questionnaire before and three months after educational intervention and were analyzed by SPSS21 and appropriate statistical tests. Three mounts after the intervention the score of spouse’s supportive behaviors was increased significantly compare to before of the educational intervention and the control group. As well as significant decrease was occurred in case of physical and psychological-behavioral symptoms of women in the intervention group compare to before the intervention and control groups (p<0.05). Spouse’s supportive behaviors can reduce PMS symptoms in women. As a result, it is recommended that the health care system organize the educational intervention to increase spouse supportive behaviors.