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Study, 2009

Do women with PMS eat differently during their menstrual cycle?

During the second half of their cycle, all women ate more calories from sweet foods, but women with PMS did not eat more food overall. Birth control pills changed these eating patterns.

Early or limited evidence 55 women, some with PMS and some without

What they did

Researchers studied 55 women during different parts of their cycle. Some had PMS and some did not. Some were taking birth control pills and some were not. They measured how much sweet and savory food women ate.

What they found

During the second half of the cycle, all women ate more calories from sweet foods. Women with PMS did not eat significantly more calories overall. Women taking birth control pills had a different pattern, eating more sweet foods in the first half of their cycle instead.

What it means for you

Sweet cravings before the period happen in most women, not specifically because of PMS. Birth control pills change when these cravings occur. The study included 55 women but did not specify which country they were from or other details.

55

women studied

2

parts of cycle measured

About the study

Original title
[Influence of premenstrual syndrome and oral contraceptive effects on food choice during the follicular and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle]
Authors
Tucci SA, Murphy LE, Boyland EJ et al.
Journal
Endocrinologia y nutricion : organo de la Sociedad Espanola de Endocrinologia y Nutricion
Year
2009
Study design
Study

Topics