---
title: Does diet or exercise affect PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: In this study of women in India, there was no link between PMS and junk food, physical activity, sugar, salt, or citrus fruits. This is one small study in one
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/charting-the-monthly-waves-an-observational-study-on-the-dynamics-of-2024/
---

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- Does diet or exercise affect PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2024

# Does diet or exercise affect PMS symptoms?

In this study of women in India, there was no link between PMS and junk food, physical activity, sugar, salt, or citrus fruits. This is one small study in one city, so it may not apply to all women.

 Early or limited evidence

200 women in Chennai, India, average age 20.3 years

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 200 women in Chennai. Women recorded their PMS symptoms in diaries for two menstrual cycles using a standard questionnaire. Researchers looked for connections between symptoms and diet or exercise habits.

## What they found

124 women (73.8%) reported heavy menstrual bleeding and 142 women (84.5%) reported menstrual cramps. There was no connection found between PMS and junk food intake, physical activity, sugar, salt, or eating citrus fruits.

## What it means for you

Common beliefs about diet and exercise affecting PMS were not supported in this study. However, this is one study in one city in India, so findings may not apply to other groups or other foods not studied here.

200

women

73.8%

with heavy menstrual bleeding

84.5%

with menstrual cramps

## About the study

Original title Charting the Monthly Waves: An Observational Study on the Dynamics of Premenstrual Syndrome Journal Texila international journal of public health Year 2024 Study design Survey study Participants 200 What was tested None (no treatment tested) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.21522/tijph.2013.se.24.05.art035](https://doi.org/10.21522/tijph.2013.se.24.05.art035)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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