---
title: Does the type of food women eat affect menstrual cycle symptoms?
description: Possibly yes. Women who ate more polyunsaturated fats and thiamine had fewer symptoms, while those with more saturated fat, iron, and niacin had more symptoms
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-symptoms-are-associated-with-nutrient-intake-results-from-2023/
---

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- Does the type of food women eat affect menstrual cycle symptoms?

Survey study, 2023

# Does the type of food women eat affect menstrual cycle symptoms?

Possibly yes. Women who ate more polyunsaturated fats and thiamine had fewer symptoms, while those with more saturated fat, iron, and niacin had more symptoms. But this study only shows connection, not that food definitely causes the changes.

 Early or limited evidence

204 women aged 18 to 40 with regular periods

## What they did

Online survey of 204 women aged 18 to 40 with regular periods. They reported their food intake and their menstrual symptoms.

## What they found

Women with higher polyunsaturated fat intake had lower odds of moderate to severe physical symptoms (odds ratio 0.71). Thiamine intake was strongly associated with lower psychological symptoms (odds ratio 0.02). Higher saturated fat, iron, and niacin intake were linked to more psychological symptoms.

## What it means for you

Diet might be something women can control to reduce menstrual symptoms. The main limit is that this was only a survey, so we cannot prove food causes the changes. The sample was also relatively small and from one online source.

204

women studied

0.71

odds ratio for polyunsaturated fat and lower physical symptoms

0.02

odds ratio for thiamine and lower psychological symptoms

## About the study

Original title Menstrual cycle symptoms are associated with nutrient intake: Results from network analysis from an online survey Authors Ghazzawi HA, Alhaj O, Bragazzi N et al. Journal Women's health (London, England) Year 2023 Study design Survey study Participants 204 What was tested None; observation of nutrient intake Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/17455057231185624](https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231185624)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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