Case-control study, 2020
Is diet quality lower in teenagers with PMS?
Yes. Teenagers with PMS have lower diet quality scores. Better diet quality was linked to less anxiety, depression, and sleep problems in girls with PMS.
What they did
Case-control study of 272 female students aged 13-18. PMS was diagnosed using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale over 2 consecutive months. Diet was assessed using 24-hour recall. A Healthy Eating Index score measured diet quality. Body measurements were recorded.
What they found
PMS was diagnosed in 56.9% of the sample. The mean Healthy Eating Index score was significantly lower in the PMS group (47.5 plus or minus 23.95) compared to the control group (53.5 plus or minus 20.98), p = 0.034. In the PMS group, anxiety (p = 0.009), depressive feelings (p = 0.016), and changes in sleeping pattern (p = 0.000) were associated with lower diet quality. No significant differences in body measurements were found.
What it means for you
Teenagers with PMS eat lower quality diets. Better diet quality was linked to fewer anxiety, depression, and sleep symptoms in girls with PMS. The study measured diet and symptoms at one point, so it cannot prove diet causes better mood.
56.9%
of students with PMS
47.5 vs 53.5
Healthy Eating Index score
p = 0.034
difference in diet quality
About the study
- Original title
- Diet quality in adolescents with premenstrual syndrome: A cross-sectional study
- Authors
- Isgin-Atici K, Kanbur N, Akgül S et al.
- Journal
- Nutrition & dietetics : the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 272
- What was tested
- Comparison of diet quality scores between students with and without PMS
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12515
Topics
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