Study, 2008
Do women with PMS have different insulin sensitivity and food cravings at different times in their cycle?
Insulin sensitivity was the same in both cycle phases. Women reported much higher food cravings in the second half of their cycle, even though they ate similar amounts of food.
What they did
Seven women with PMS were admitted to a hospital twice, once during each half of their menstrual cycle. Before each hospital visit, they recorded everything they ate for three days. During each stay, researchers tested how their body handled blood sugar by measuring their insulin response.
What they found
Insulin sensitivity did not differ between the first and second half of the cycle. Women ate the same amount of food and the same proportions of nutrients in both phases. However, they reported much higher food cravings in the second half of the cycle. The women ate carbohydrates making up 55 to 64 percent of their daily calories. Symptom scores dropped sharply from 186 in the second half to 16.6 in the first half of the cycle.
What it means for you
Even though women crave food more before their period, the craving doesn't match what they eat or how their body handles blood sugar. This suggests food cravings come from something other than insulin. The findings hint the real problem may be deeper in how hormones are regulated. This was a very small study with seven women and no comparison group.
7
women with PMS
55-64%
of daily calories from carbohydrates
186-16.6
symptom scores (second to first half of cycle)
About the study
- Original title
- Insulin sensitivity, food intake, and cravings with premenstrual syndrome: a pilot study
- Authors
- Trout KK, Basel-Brown L, Rickels MR et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health (2002)
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 7
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2007.0594
Topics
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