Do Food Intake and Food Cravings Change during the Menstrual Cycle of Young Women?

Abstract

Objective The aim of the present study was to assess the anthropometric measures, food intake and food cravings during the menstrual cycle of undergraduate students of the faculty of nutrition.

Methods A cross-sectional study was performed with 27 students from a public university in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, who had their food intake evaluated through a 24-hour food recall, their nutritional status evaluated based on anthropometric measures, and food cravings evaluated using the Food Desire Questionnaire. Data were collected during an evaluation in the follicular phase (between the 5^th and the 9^th day of the menstrual cycle) and another in the luteal phase (LP) (between the 20^th and the 25^th day of the menstrual cycle). For food intake variables, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used, followed by the Tukey test. The Mann-Whitney test was used for the analysis of food cravings, considering a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05).

Results The desire for foods rich in sugar, salt, and fat, such as chocolate, pastries, snacks and desserts were higher (p < 0.05) during the premenstrual period, although it did not reflect neither a higher energy intake nor an alteration in the distribution of macronutrients. A higher intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, and calcium was observed during the LP; however, without statistical difference between the groups. There were no differences either in the intake of any food group or in the anthropometric measurements (p > 0.05).

Conclusion Food cravings of nutrition students differed between the phases of the menstrual cycle; however, with no difference in food intake and in anthropometric measures.

Resumo

Objetivo Verificar alterações de medidas corporais, consumo e desejos alimentares durante o ciclo menstrual de acadêmicas de nutrição.

Métodos Estudo transversal com 27 estudantes de uma universidade pública do Mato Grosso do Sul, as quais tiveram seu consumo alimentar avaliado por meio de recordatório alimentar de 24 horas, estado nutricional avaliado com base em medidas antropométricas, e desejos alimentares avaliados utilizando-se o Questionário de Desejo Alimentar. Os dados foram coletados durante uma avaliação na fase folicular (entre o 5° e o 9° dia do ciclo menstrual) e outra na fase lútea (entre o 20° e o 25° dia do ciclo menstrual). Para as variáveis de consumo alimentar, utilizou-se o teste análise de variância (ANOVA, na sigla em inglês), seguido pelo teste de Tukey. Já para a análise dos desejos alimentares, utilizou-se o teste de Mann-Whitney. Foi considerado o nível de significância de 5% (p < 0,05).

Resultados Os desejos por alimentos ricos em açúcar, sal e gordura, como chocolates, produtos de pastelaria, lanches e sobremesas foram maiores (p < 0,05) no momento pré-menstrual, apesar de não refletirem em maior consumo energético e tampouco em alteração na distribuição de macronutrientes. Observou-se maior consumo de carboidratos, proteínas, fibras e cálcio na fase lútea; no entanto, sem diferença estatística entre os grupos. Não foram encontradas diferenças no consumo de nenhum grupo alimentar, tampouco nas medidas antropométricas (p > 0,05).

Conclusão Os desejos alimentares das acadêmicas de nutrição diferiram entre as fases; no entanto, sem diferença no consumo alimentar e nas medidas corporais.

Keywords

menstrual cycle - food intake - nutrition assessment - feeding behavior - luteal phase - follicular phase

Palavras-chave

ciclo menstrual - consumo alimentar - avaliação nutricional - comportamento alimentar - fase lútea - fase folicular

Contributors

The idea for the present study and this specific analytical approach arose in a group discussion among Souza L. B. and Rodrigues Y. Analyses were planned and performed by Bomfim R. A. and Souza L. B. The first version of the manuscript was drafted by Souza L. B. and by Rafacho B. P. M., and then complemented with suggestions from all the other authors. Rodrigues Y. and Bomfim R. A. contributed to the development of the study protocol and data collection. All of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be submitted.

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