Journal Article

Changes in macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group intakes throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy, premenopausal women

Sjaarda, Lindsey A., Wactawski-Wende, Jean, Schliep, Karen C., Mumford, Sunni L., Gorczyca, Anna M., Perkins, Neil J., Mitchell, Emily M.

2016

Overview

Purpose It is thought that total energy intake in women is increased during the luteal versus follicular phase of the menstrual cycle; however, less is understood regarding changes in diet composition (i.e., macro- and micronutrient intakes) across the cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group intakes across phases of the menstrual cycle among healthy women, and to assess whether these patterns differ by ovulatory status. Methods The BioCycle study (2005–2007) was a prospective cohort study of 259 healthy regularly menstruating women age 18–44 who were followed for up to two menstrual cycles. Dietary intake was measured using 24-h dietary recalls, and food cravings were assessed via questionnaire, up to four times per cycle, corresponding to menses, mid-follicular, expected ovulation, and luteal phases. Linear mixed models adjusting for total energy intake were used to evaluate changes across the cycle. Results Total protein ( P  = 0.03), animal protein ( P  = 0.05), and percent of caloric intake from protein ( P  = 0.02) were highest during the mid-luteal phase compared to the peri-ovulatory phase. There were also significant increases in appetite, craving for chocolate, craving for sweets in general, craving for salty flavor, and total craving score during the late luteal phase compared to the menstrual, follicular, and ovulatory phases ( P  < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest an increased intake of protein, and specifically animal protein, as well as an increase in reported food cravings, during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle independent of ovulatory status. These results highlight a plausible link between macronutrient intake and menstrual cycle phase.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / animal proteins / Appetite - physiology / Body Mass Index / Chemistry / Chemistry and Materials Science / chocolate / cohort studies / Craving / diet recall / Diet, Healthy / Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage / Dietary Fats - administration & dosage / Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage / Energy Intake / Female / flavor / food groups / food intake / Humans / Life Style / Linear Models / Menstrual Cycle - physiology / menstruation / Mental Recall / Micronutrients - administration & dosage / Nutrition / Original Contribution / ovulation / Premenopause / Prospective Studies / protein content / protein intake / questionnaires / Surveys and Questionnaires / sweets / women / Young Adult