Elsevier

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 95, Issue 2, February 2000, Pages 245-250
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Original Articles
Diet and sex-hormone binding globulin, dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual symptoms

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(99)00525-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: To test the hypothesis that a low-fat, vegetarian diet reduces dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms by its effect on serum sex-hormone binding globulin concentration and estrogen activity.

Methods: In a crossover design, 33 women followed a low-fat, vegetarian diet for two menstrual cycles. For two additional cycles, they followed their customary diet while taking a supplement placebo pill. Dietary intake, serum sex-hormone binding globulin concentration, body weight, pain duration and intensity, and premenstrual symptoms were assessed during each study phase.

Results: Mean (± standard deviation [SD]) serum sex-hormone binding globulin concentration was higher during the diet phase (46.7 ± 23.6 nmol/L) than during the supplement phase (39.3 ± 19.8 nmol/L, P < .001). Mean (± SD) body weight was lower during the diet (66.1 ± 11.3 kg) compared with the supplement phase (67.9 ± 12.1 kg, P < .001). Mean dysmenorrhea duration fell significantly from baseline (3.9 ± 1.7 days) to diet phase (2.7 ± 1.9 days) compared with change from baseline to supplement phase (3.6 ± 1.7 days, P < .01). Pain intensity fell significantly during the diet phase, compared with baseline, for the worst, second-worst, and third-worst days, and mean durations of premenstrual concentration, behavioral change, and water retention symptoms were reduced significantly, compared with the supplement phase.

Conclusion: A low-fat vegetarian diet was associated with increased serum sex-hormone binding globulin concentration and reductions in body weight, dysmenorrhea duration and intensity, and premenstrual symptom duration. The symptom effects might be mediated by dietary influences on estrogen activity.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The study was approved by the institutional review board and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Georgetown University. Volunteers were recruited through newspaper advertisements and notices mailed to gynecologists in the Washington, DC, area. All participants gave written informed consent before enrollment. Participants were to be at least 18 years of age, with menstrual periods accompanied consistently by moderate to severe abdominal pain causing significant distress or

Results

Fifty-one volunteers met the criteria for participation. Their demographic characteristics are listed in Table 1. Twelve volunteers failed to complete the study due to menopause (1), pregnancy (1), repeatedly missing group meetings (2), noncompliance with the intervention diet (2), extended overseas travel (1), death in the family (1), major financial problems (1), spouse objections to the diet (1), scheduling difficulties (1), and unknown reasons (1). In addition, six participants were

Discussion

In women with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea, a low-fat, vegetarian diet was associated with a significant increase in mean serum sex-hormone binding globulin concentration and reductions in mean body weight and BMI as well as significant reductions in menstrual pain duration, pain intensity, and duration of premenstrual symptoms related to concentration, behavioral change, and water retention.

There are several ways that diet might affect PG synthesis. Diet influences sex hormone concentration

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    Diet and reproductive hormonesA study of vegetarian and novegetarian postmenopausal women

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