---
title: Do vegetarians have worse PMS than non-vegetarians? | Niyora
description: Possibly. Symptoms were slightly more severe in vegetarians (9%) compared to non-vegetarians (5%), though the study does not explain why and found no link bet
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/determination-of-severity-of-premenstrual-syndrome-among-vegetarian-and-non-2022/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do vegetarians have worse PMS than non-vegetarians?

Survey study, 2022

# Do vegetarians have worse PMS than non-vegetarians?

Possibly. Symptoms were slightly more severe in vegetarians (9%) compared to non-vegetarians (5%), though the study does not explain why and found no link between BMI and PMS severity.

 Early or limited evidence

Staff and students at a medical college in India

## What they did

Staff and students at a medical college completed a questionnaire about their diet pattern and PMS symptoms.

## What they found

PMS was more common in younger women aged 18-25 years (57%) than in older women aged 26-49 years (43%). Symptoms were slightly more severe among vegetarians (9%) compared to non-vegetarians (5%). There was no correlation between PMS severity and BMI.

## What it means for you

Younger women may have more noticeable PMS. Vegetarians may have slightly worse symptoms, but the reasons are unclear and may involve other dietary factors not measured. The study was limited to one medical college, and the small sample reduces confidence in these findings.

57%

young women (18-25 years) with PMS

43%

older women (26-49 years) with PMS

9% vs 5%

severe PMS in vegetarians vs non-vegetarians

## About the study

Original title Determination of severity of premenstrual syndrome among vegetarian and non-vegetarian women Authors Suparna Ghosh, K Roopashree, Prithika Shree Ragothaman et al. Journal National Journal of Physiology Pharmacy and Pharmacology Year 2022 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5455/njppp.2023.13.10506202229112022](https://doi.org/10.5455/njppp.2023.13.10506202229112022)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Does a lifestyle education program reduce PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2025

Is emotional eating linked to PMS in university women?

Survey study, 2021

Does exercise and diet affect PMS symptoms in teenagers?

Cohort study, 2019

How do exercise, diet and weight affect menstrual problems?

Survey study, 2024

Is physical activity or body fat related to PMS in teenage girls?

Survey study, 2024

Can yoga and diet reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗