This study aimed to elicit the variability of appetite and food intake patterns in female college students during different menstrual phases. The craving for certain foods and physiological and psychological symptoms of menstrual phase (pre- and post-menstrual) were investigated by self-administered questionnaire. Three hundred and sixty six students who were 20.9 years old and had 19.8 kg/m2 of BMI volunteered to participate in this study. Most of the subjects (89.5%) experienced the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as irritation, bodily fatigue, nervosity. Symptoms such as tiredness, stomachache, changes in taste and increased appetite were pointed out to be experienced at the onset of the menstrual cycle. The variability of food intake in premenstrual phase, 11.0% of subjects had decreased food intake where as 68.8% had experienced increased intake. The postmenstrual phase, 20.1% had decreased food intake while 45.2% had experienced increased intake due to changes in the appetite. Before starting menstruation, most of the subjects craved for sweets. The group who had experienced abnormal appetite during menstrual phase was significantly high ratio in overweight and obese students (p < 0.05). We also observed an association between the PMS score and the variability of eating patterns during the menstrual phase. The students who experienced changing appetite and food intake had significantly high PMS score in the premenstrual phase (p < 0.01) and postmenstrual phase (p < 0.05). These results suggested a need for future study related to changes in the actual nutrient intake and activity level during the menstrual phase.
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This study was designed to compare the incidence and severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) between normal (N = 85) and overweight or obese (N = 28) college female students and investigated correlation between PMS, nutrient intake, hematological index and psychological index (depression, anxiety, stress). Each subject was asked a Menstrual Discomfort Questionnaire (MDQ) for PMS by 5 Likert scale. The PMS scores of women in the normal weight subjects ranked in order of severity were water retention (2.71), followed by behavioral change (2.58), negative affect (2.46), pain (2.31), autonomic reaction (2.27), decreased concentration (2.16). The symptoms of 'pain' and 'behavioral change' of overweight or obese subject were significantly higher than those of normal subject (p < 0.05). And total cholesterol concentration of overweight or obese subjects was significantly higher than in normal subject (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the symptoms of 'negative effect' and BMI. And the triglyceride concentration was positively related with 'water retention (p < 0.01)'. The symptoms of 'decreased concentration' were negatively correlated with calcium (p < 0.01) and vitamin B6 intake (p < 0.05). The depression score were positively related with symptoms of 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)', 'negative affect' (p < 0.01), and the anxiety score was positively correlated with 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)' and 'decreased concentration (p < 0.05)'. The stress score was positively correlated with 'decreased concentration (p < 0.01)', 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)' and 'negative affect (p < 0.05)'. This suggests that PMS represents the clinical manifestation of a calcium, vitamin B6 deficiency and psychological disorder. Therefore we concluded that nutrient supplementation, depression and stress management may help to relieve PMS symptoms.
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This study was performed to investigate nutritional intakes and preference food and blood composition of female college students of premenstrual syndrome. Based on physical measurement test results, both groups showed no noticeable difference and both groups were within the normal range according to body composition analysis. In terms of nutrients consumption, results showed nutritional intakes more than EAR (estimated average requirements) included phosphorus > vitamin B6>vitamin B1, while nutritional intakes less than EAR were vitamin A > vitamin B2> calcium > folic acid. A significant difference was observed for vitamin C intake (p < 0.05). The overall mean values of basic blood (WBC, RBC, Hct, and Hb), sex hormone (Estrogen, Progesterone), aldosterone, cortisol, Cu, Zn, and Ca, Mg indices in female college students were within the normal range and there was no significant difference between the PMS group and the Normal group. In conclusion, vitamin C intake of the PMS group showed a level of 84.8% EAR. Therefore vitamin C supplement can be beneficial to relieve the PMS Syndrome.
This study was performed to investigate the correlation between Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and nutritional intake, blood composition of female students. One hundred and one female students were selected as the experimental subjects at Gyeongsang National University. To assess the PMS symptoms of the subjects, a questionnaire (PAF) score based on the methods of Halbreich, Endicor and Nee was prepared with 34 different items. Dietary survey was conducted by 24-hour recall method for 3 days and nutrient intakes were analyzed by the CAN-Pro. Blood composition of WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, Ca and Mg was measured. The average height, weight and BMI of subjects were 160.7 +/- 4.6 cm, 54.1 +/- 5.7 kg and 21.2 +/- 1.9, respectively. Average intakes of energy, calcium, iron, zinc, vit B2, and folic acid per day were 1810.2 +/- 344.9 kcal (90.5% of RDA), 621.1 +/- 197.3 mg (88.7% of RDA), 15.9 +/- 4.9 mg (99.3% of RDA), 8.1 +/- 3.4 mg (80.5% of RDA), 1.1 +/- 0.6 mg (88.3% of RDA) and 234.3 +/- 78.6 microgram (93.7% of RDA), respectively. Score of the behavioral symptoms, psychologic symptoms, physical symptoms and other symptoms were recorded 1.79 +/- 0.86, 2.11 +/- 1.08, 2.31 +/- 1.11 and 1.58 +/- 0.86, respectively. The relation between PMS and menstrual cramps was significant. A significant difference was observed for menstruation amount in physical symptoms (p < 0.05) and other score (p < 0.05). The group who drinks alcohol over 30 g per day showed higher scores at total PAF (p < 0.05), psychologic symptoms (p < 0.05), physical symptoms (p < 0.05), and other scores (p < 0.05) than those who don't drink alcohol. Calcium in the blood showed a negative correlation with total PAF score (p < 0.05), behavioral symptoms (p < 0.05), physical symptoms (p < 0.05) and other scores (p < 0.01). Magnesium in the blood showed a negative correlation with physical symptoms (p < 0.05), other score (p < 0.05). WBC was negatively associated with psychologic scores (p < 0.05). Hb and Hct were negatively associated with other scores (p < 0.05). In conclusion, calcium intake showed a level of 88.7% of RDA and this study revealed that there is a correlation between PMS and blood composition in female college students. Therefore, calcium and magnesium supplements can be beneficial to relieve PMS symptoms.
This study was designed to identify premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and to investigate the correlation between premenstrual syndrome and nutritional intakes. The subjects of this study were 138 college women residing in Busan Metropolitan City. The subjects were asked to complete Menstrual Discomfort Questionnaire (MDQ) regarding PMS, food intake frequencies and nutritional intake. We studied the correlation between PMS symptoms and nutritional intake. The average height and weight of anemic subjects were 161.42 +/- 3.50 cm and 51.87 +/-5.42 kg. The average BMI (body mass index, kg/m2) was 19.92 +/-2.14 and PIBW (percent ideal body weight) were 93.02 +/-9.75%. Except for phosphorous, vitamin A and vitamin C intakes, the intake levels of all other nutrients were below the Korean RDA. The average calorie intake of the subjects was 1645.65 +/-352.63 kcal (82.2% of the Korean RDA) and iron intake of the subject was 11.06 +/-4.03 mg (69.1% of the Korean RDA). The calcium and vitamin B6 intakes were 512.26 +/-183.12 mg (73.1% of the Korean RDA) and 1.12 +/-0.14 mg (80.0% of the Korean RDA), respectively. With regard to their menstrual state, 45.9% subjects responded that their menstrual cycles were 'irregular'. The frequency of PMS of the subjects was 30.2% (over 3 points) on 5 point scale (1 : no. 5 : severe). The common symptoms of PMS of the subjects were pain (2.32 +/-1.01), negative effects (2.27 +/-0.87), behavioral changes (2.26 +/-0.85), water retention (2.07 +/-0.78), arousal (1.79 +/-0.84), autonomic reactions (1.77 +/-0.87), lack of control (1.69 +/-0.75) and decreased concentration (1.68 +/-0.75). There was significant correlation between all the PMS symptoms and calcium (p < 0.01), vitamin E (p < 0.05), carbohydrate (p < 0.05). This suggests that PMS represents the clinical manifestation of nutrient deficiency states especially calcium. Therefore we concluded that calcium supplementation is likely to be of benefit in relieving PMS symptoms.