Survey study, 2015
Does sweet taste preference change with depression during the menstrual cycle?
In women during their luteal phase, those with higher depression symptoms needed more sugar to taste sweetness. This connection happened only in the luteal phase, not at other times.
What they did
40 college women identified when they could taste sugar at different concentrations, completed depression and anxiety assessments, and noted which phase of their menstrual cycle they were in. Results were compared to men and women in the follicular phase.
What they found
In women in the luteal phase, the sweet taste threshold was linked with depression and anxiety levels. Those with higher depression needed more sugar to taste sweetness. This link did not exist in women in the follicular phase or in men.
What it means for you
The parts of the brain that handle emotions and taste may be connected and affected by hormones during the menstrual cycle. However, the study was small, did not follow women over time, and was done in a lab setting, so more research is needed.
40
female college students
-0.472
relationship between taste threshold and depression
-0.506
relationship between taste threshold and anxiety
About the study
- Original title
- Sweet taste threshold for sucrose inversely correlates with depression symptoms in female college students in the luteal phase
- Authors
- Nagai M, Matsumoto S, Endo J et al.
- Journal
- Physiology & behavior
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 40
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.01.003
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2023
Do women with PMS have slower reaction times and mood changes than others?
Randomised trial, 2023
What does research show about PMDD neurochemistry?
Survey study, 2023
How common are PMS and PMDD among college girls, and what are their symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2023
Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms?
Cohort study, 2010
How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages?
Survey study, 2026
How does PMS affect test anxiety in nursing students?