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Case-control study, 2020

Do appetite hormones and eating behaviors change differently across the luteal phase in women with PMDD?

Women with PMDD have higher leptin levels throughout the luteal phase and show increased sweet cravings and uncontrolled eating, but changes in leptin are not linked to eating changes while depression and impulsivity are more important.

Moderate study design 63 women with PMDD and 53 healthy controls

What they did

Sixty-three women with PMDD and 53 healthy controls had blood tests for leptin and ghrelin during early and late luteal phases. They completed questionnaires about food cravings, eating control, emotional eating, depression, and impulsivity.

What they found

PMDD women had higher BMI, higher leptin levels in both early and late luteal phases, and leptin increased from early to late luteal phase. Women with PMDD showed increased sweet cravings and uncontrolled eating from early to late luteal phase. Depression and impulsivity correlated more strongly with increased cravings and uncontrolled eating than leptin or ghrelin levels. No significant difference in ghrelin between groups.

What it means for you

Women with PMDD struggle with increased eating and cravings during the luteal phase, but mood symptoms appear more important than hormone levels in driving these changes. Whether the increased eating contributes to obesity risk in PMDD requires further investigation.

63

women with PMDD

53

healthy controls

2

luteal phases tested (early and late)

About the study

Original title
Leptin and ghrelin concentrations and eating behaviors during the early and late luteal phase in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Authors
Yen JY, Lin HC, Lin PC et al.
Journal
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Year
2020
Study design
Case-control study
Participants
63
What was tested
None

Topics