HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BARNARD, N. D. Articles by BERTRON, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BARNARD, N. D. Articles by BERTRON, P.

Diet and Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin, Dysmenorrhea, and Premenstrual Symptoms

From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.

Address reprint requests to: Neal D. Barnard, MD 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20016 E-mail: nbarnard{at}pcrm.org

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Proctor and C. Farquhar Diagnosis and management of dysmenorrhoea. BMJ, May 13, 2006; 332(7550): 1134 - 1138. [Full Text] [PDF]