---
title: Do mood changes during the menstrual cycle relate to salt balance and weight?
description: Yes, there was a clear link between mood changes and changes in salt balance during the menstrual cycle. Weight also changed along with mood.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/correlations-between-mood-urinary-electrolytes-and-weight-during-the-menstrual-1972/
---

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- Do mood changes during the menstrual cycle relate to salt balance and weight?

Survey study, 1972

# Do mood changes during the menstrual cycle relate to salt balance and weight?

Yes, there was a clear link between mood changes and changes in salt balance during the menstrual cycle. Weight also changed along with mood.

 Early or limited evidence

11 female college-age volunteers

## What they did

Eleven college-age women lived in a hospital ward where researchers controlled their diet and salt intake. Over 410 days covering 14 menstrual cycles, researchers measured their daily mood, morning weight, and salt and potassium levels in their urine.

## What they found

There was a clear positive relationship between negative mood and changes in the potassium-to-sodium ratio during the menstrual cycle. Weight changes were also linked to mood changes.

## What it means for you

Mood changes during the menstrual cycle may be related to how the body handles salt and water. However, the study was very small with only 11 women, and controlling salt and food intake in a lab may not reflect how things work in everyday life.

11

women

410

days studied

14

menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title Correlations Between Mood, Urinary Electrolytes, and Weight During the Menstrual Cycle Authors David S. Janowsky, Steven Berens, John M. Davis Journal Annals of Internal Medicine Year 1972 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-76-5-858_3](https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-76-5-858_3)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)

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