--- title: Does following a Mediterranean diet help reduce PMS symptoms? description: Yes. Women with lower PMS scores had significantly higher Mediterranean diet adherence. Each one-point increase in diet adherence was linked to a 10.9% higher url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-association-between-adherence-to-the-mediterranean-diet-and-premenstrual-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does following a Mediterranean diet help reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2026 # Does following a Mediterranean diet help reduce PMS symptoms? Yes. Women with lower PMS scores had significantly higher Mediterranean diet adherence. Each one-point increase in diet adherence was linked to a 10.9% higher likelihood of not having PMS. Early or limited evidence 682 female nursing students (382 with PMS, 300 without PMS) ## What they did A cross-sectional study of 682 female nursing students, divided into two groups based on whether they had PMS (382 with PMS, 300 without). Researchers assessed PMS severity using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and measured Mediterranean diet adherence using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale. ## What they found Women with PMS had significantly lower Mediterranean Diet Adherence scores (p<0.001). As adherence increased, PMS scores decreased (p<0.001). Each one-point increase in MEDAS score was associated with a 10.9% higher likelihood of not having PMS (p<0.001). ## What it means for you A Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats may help reduce PMS symptoms. However, this study shows association, not cause, and involved only nursing students, so results may not apply to all women. 682 total female nursing students 382 students with PMS 10.9% higher likelihood of no PMS per one-point diet increase ## About the study Original title The Association Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Premenstrual Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study Authors Kadriye Toprak, Aliye Kuyumcu Journal Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 682 What was tested None - dietary adherence was measured Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1800551](https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1800551) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling? Non-randomised trial, 2026 Do dietary changes or sun exposure reduce PMS symptoms in adolescent girls? Survey study, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Cohort study, 2026 Are diet and lifestyle linked to premenstrual symptoms in college students? Survey study, 2026 What factors most strongly drive PMS severity in female engineering students? Cohort study, 2026 Are stress, physical activity, and diet linked to premenstrual symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗