--- title: Do lifestyle and nutrition affect menstrual symptoms? | Niyora description: Yes. Women with menstrual symptoms had different eating patterns and lifestyle factors than those without symptoms. Strong links were found between diet and t url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-beyond-lifestyle-nutrition-and-personal-facts-2014/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do lifestyle and nutrition affect menstrual symptoms? Cohort study, 2014 # Do lifestyle and nutrition affect menstrual symptoms? Yes. Women with menstrual symptoms had different eating patterns and lifestyle factors than those without symptoms. Strong links were found between diet and the type of menstrual pattern. Early or limited evidence 108 women followed over time with menstrual symptoms ## What they did 108 women filled out a detailed 212-question survey about what they ate and their lifestyle. Researchers tracked their menstrual symptoms over time and compared the symptom patterns to their answers. ## What they found 17% had no symptoms. 14% had core PMS, linked to eating less complex carbs, fiber, and calcium. 27% had non-cyclical symptoms, linked to stress and low magnesium and vitamin B6. 42% had premenstrual exacerbation, linked to high sugar and sodium, and low calcium, magnesium, and B6. Across all groups, severe symptoms linked to being young, being a student, smoking, stress, and heavy periods. ## What it means for you What you eat and your stress level may affect how severe menstrual symptoms are. The study only showed associations, not whether changing diet actually helps. It is one observational study, so results may differ elsewhere. 17% had no menstrual symptoms 14% had core PMS 42% had premenstrual exacerbation ## About the study Original title Premenstrual syndrome and beyond: lifestyle, nutrition, and personal facts Authors Bianco V, Cestari AM, Casati D et al. Journal Minerva ginecologica Year 2014 Study design Cohort study Participants 108 What was tested None Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25020055/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25020055/) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Magnesium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-magnesium/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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. ## Related studies Study, 2026 How can lifestyle changes help reduce premenstrual syndrome? Review, 2025 Does nutrition affect PMS and menstrual cycle regularity? Systematic review, 2025 Do nutritional interventions help with emotional symptoms of PMS? Randomised trial, 2003 What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues? Survey study, 2025 Do certain nutrients and body weight affect PMS? Study, 2024 How do lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress affect menstrual health and PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗