Randomised trial, 1987

Does eating less fat reduce menstrual and premenstrual symptoms?

A low-fat diet reduced water retention symptoms during menstruation and the premenstrual week, and reduced arousal symptoms during the rest of the cycle. However, the type of fat (polyunsaturated versus saturated) did not matter.

Moderate study design 30 healthy premenopausal women

What they did

30 healthy women were randomly assigned to two diet groups with different ratios of polyunsaturated to saturated fats (1.0 versus 0.3). Both groups then ate a high-fat diet (40% of calories from fat) for 4 menstrual cycles, followed by a low-fat diet (20% of calories from fat) for 4 cycles. Women completed a menstrual distress questionnaire throughout.

What they found

No significant differences appeared between the two fat ratio groups. During the low-fat diet period, women reported significant decreases in water retention symptoms during both menstruation and the premenstrual week. They also reported decreased arousal symptoms during the rest of the menstrual cycle on the low-fat diet.

What it means for you

Eating less fat overall may reduce water retention and arousal symptoms, but it may not matter whether the fat is polyunsaturated or saturated. The benefit comes from lowering total fat intake.

Women enrolled

20%

Fat in low-fat diet period

40%

Fat in high-fat diet period

About the study

Original title: Influence of dietary fat on self-reported menstrual symptoms
Authors: Jones DY
Journal: Physiology & behavior
Year: 1987
Study design: Randomised trial
What was tested: Low-fat diet at 20% of calories from fat versus high-fat diet at 40% of calories from fat
Read the paper: doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(87)90034-5

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Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)Dysmenorrhea and period pain Diet and nutrition

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