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Nutrition in Menopause - NED Infobite
BANT's scientific NED InfoBites are designed to provide key elements of the latest research using plain language. They provide quick overviews on particular health issues and nutrition topics for a speedy introduction to the science. Visually attractive and easily shareable with clients and social media followers.
2024
Abstract
Menopause is the natural end to menstruation that occurs in women with ageing. This NED Infobite looks at the science behind nutritional strategies that impact both symptoms of menopause and disease risk associated with it. The use of probiotics for bone health during menopause is examined in one study and the potential benefits of including olive oil for metabolic syndrome management in another.
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Nutrients for female brain health across the lifespan
Food for the Brain Foundation are a not for profit charity working to raise awareness of the importance of optimum nutrition in mental health, and to empower individuals to change their diet and lifestyle and take greater control of their own mental health.
2023
Abstract
A blog that explores specific nutrients and dietary patterns that are most supportive of female brain health across the lifespan starting with premenstruation, menstruation and finally the menopause.
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Understanding and Embracing your Menstrual Cycle with Le’Nise Brothers
The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) was founded in by 1984 by Patrick Holford with the support of twice Nobel Prize winner Professor Linus Pauling, ION has been successfully training nutritional therapists for more than 30 years and is recognised as one of the most respected training bodies of its kind in Europe. Their mission is to ‘educate and enthuse, instilling optimum nutrition as the foundation of health for all’.
2023
Abstract
ION talk to Le’Nise Brothers, a registered nutritionist, mBANT, mCNHC, specialising in women’s health, hormones and the menstrual cycle. She discusses the four phases of the menstrual cycle, what is considered ‘normal’ from a period perspective, and how nutrition and lifestyle can impact how we experience our cycle and what we can do to improve that experience.
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Probiotic treatment with specific lactobacilli does not improve an unfavorable vaginal microbiota prior to fertility treatment-A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
Jepsen, IE, Saxtorph, MH, Englund, ALM, Petersen, KB, Wissing, MLM, Hviid, TVF, Macklon, N
Frontiers in endocrinology. 2022;13:1057022
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Efforts to improve pregnancy rates remain largely focused on enhancing the quality of the transferred embryo. However, there is increasing awareness of the potential role of the intra-uterine environment as a determinant for success. The aim of this study was to determine if lactobacilli-loaded vaginal capsules are superior to placebo in improving a vaginal microbiota reported as unfavourable to implantation in women scheduled for fertility treatment. This study is a single-centre, two-arm, double-blinded, randomised controlled study. The study enrolled women aged 18–40 years who were referred to the Fertility Clinic and whose vaginal microbiota prior to fertility treatment had been diagnosed as an unfavourable. Participants (n=77) were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either lactobacilli-loaded vaginal capsules or placebo. Results did not show any significant effect of treatment with lactobacilli-loaded vaginal capsules on the unfavourable vaginal microbiota profile among women referred to fertility treatment. However, the study showed the highly dynamic nature of the vaginal microbiota, with a spontaneous improvement rate of 34.2% (of the patients) one to three months after the baseline sample. Authors conclude that probiotics use for the improvement of vaginal microbiota should be tempered with some caution. More studies of both the vaginal and endometrial microbiota are required to confirm the efficacy of specific vaginal probiotics before they can be considered as a therapeutic solution.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether treatment with proprietary lactobacilli-loaded vaginal capsules improves an unfavorable vaginal microbiome diagnosed using a commercially available test and algorithm. DESIGN A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 74 women prior to undergoing fertility treatment at a single university fertility clinic between April 2019 and February 2021. The women were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive one vaginal capsule per day for 10 days containing either a culture of more than 108 CFU of Lactobacillus gasseri and more than 108 CFU Lactobacillus rhamnosus (lactobacilli group) or no active ingredient (placebo group). Vaginal swabs for microbiota analysis were taken at enrollment, after treatment and in the cycle following treatment. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Women aged 18-40 years who prior to fertility treatment were diagnosed with an unfavorable vaginal microbiota, characterized by either a low relative load of Lactobacillus or a high proportion of disrupting bacteria using the criteria of the IS-pro™ diagnostic system (ARTPred, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of women with improvement of the vaginal microbiota after intervention. RESULTS The vaginal microbiota improved after intervention in 34.2% of all participants (lactobacilli group 28.9%, placebo group 40.0%), with no significant difference in the improvement rate between the lactobacilli and placebo groups, RR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.38-1.38). CONCLUSION This study indicates that administering vaginal probiotics may not be an effective means of modulating the vaginal microbiome for clinical purposes in an infertile population. However, a spontaneous improvement rate of 34.2% over a period of one to three months, confirming the dynamic nature of the vaginal microbiota, indicates that a strategy of postponing further IVF treatment to await microbiota improvement may be relevant in some patients, but further research is needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03843112.
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Menstruation-Related Disorders-Dysmenorrhea and Heavy Bleeding-as Significant Epiphenomena in Women With Rheumatic Diseases.
Orlandi, M, Vannuccini, S, El Aoufy, K, Melis, MR, Lepri, G, Sambataro, G, Bellando-Randone, S, Guiducci, S, Cerinic, MM, Petraglia, F
Frontiers in pharmacology. 2022;13:807880
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Rheumatic diseases (RDs) affect significantly more women than men, and for this reason, gynaecological disorders may have an additional negative impact on women’s health. The aim of this study was to describe gynaecological symptoms among fertile age women with RDs and their impact on quality of life. This study is a monocentric, cross-sectional observational study. Results show that a large number of women with RDs report menstrual disorders. In fact, more than half of the population reported of having dysmenorrhea since adolescence. Similarly, during fertile age, menstrual pain was frequently reported, and in 72% of the cases, the intensity resulted to be moderate/severe. Additionally, heavy menstrual bleeding was found in 38% of the patients during adulthood and in 52% of patients during adolescence. Authors conclude that the management of female patients with RDs is a challenge for clinicians and should include an accurate evaluation of gynaecological aspects (menstruation, fertility, maternity, and sexuality) as well as manage an interdisciplinary teamwork approach (rheumatologist and gynaecologists).
Abstract
Background: In women with rheumatic diseases (RDs) menstruation-related disorders have never been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate gynecological symptoms/disorders in fertile age women with RDs. Materials and methods: All patients (n = 200) filled up a self-administered questionnaire on their gynecological history, menstrual cycle pattern, menstrual-related symptoms, and quality of life (QoL). The RD group was then compared to a control group of 305 age-matched fertile age women. Results: Among patients with RDs, 58% had arthritis, 40% connective tissue diseases (CTDs), and 1.5% systemic vasculitis. No differences were observed between CTDs and arthritis, except for a family history of HMB which was more common among women with CTDs (p < .01). When compared to controls, women with RDs reported more frequent heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) during adolescence (51.7 and 25.4%, respectively; p = .0001) and adult life (37.7 and 25.9%, respectively; p = .0065). Also, dysmenorrhea in adolescence was significantly more common among cases (55.6 and 45.4%, respectively; p = .0338). Gynecological pain (dysmenorrhea, non-menstrual pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, and dyschezia) in patients with RDs was more frequent than in controls (p = .0001, .0001, .0001, .0001, .0002, respectively). Considering women who reported moderate and severe symptoms in RDs, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia remain significantly more frequent in women with RDs than in controls (p = .0001; p = .0022; respectively). QoL scores were significantly reduced in women with RDs, either in physical (p = .0001) and mental domains (p = .0014) of short-form 12. Conclusion: Women affected by RDs frequently presented menstruation-related disorders; thus, female patients with RDs should be questioned about gynecological symptoms and referred to the gynecologist for an accurate evaluation.
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The Sprint-Interval Exercise Using a Spinning Bike Improves Physical Fitness and Ameliorates Primary Dysmenorrhea Symptoms Through Hormone and Inflammation Modulations: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Huang, WC, Chiu, PC, Ho, CH
Journal of sports science & medicine. 2022;21(4):595-607
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Menstruation is regulated by hormonal modulation mediated by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal axis through the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicular-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on the amelioration of discomfort and distress symptoms characteristic of primary dysmenorrhea and its effects on inflammation and hormone modulation. This study is a randomised controlled trial. The participants were randomly assigned to the control (n = 16) or dysmenorrhea (n = 32) group. Results show that HIIT exercise model may improve a person’s physical attributes such as cardiovascular fitness and explosive force. Additionally, premenstrual symptoms, menstrual distress, and menstrual pain were also significantly ameliorated on implementation of the 10-week HIIT spinning bike exercise. Authors conclude that HIIT exercise model may be considered as an avenue for promoting women’s health and as an adequate way for improving quality of life, study/work productivity, and as a possible prevention method against gynaecological disorders in the adolescent population.
Abstract
Dysmenorrhea with high prevalence has been categorized as primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and secondary dysmenorrhea due to differences in pathogenesis. A significant number of reproductive females suffering from monthly menstruation have to deal with negative impacts on their quality of life, work/study productivity, activities, and social relationships. In addition to medical treatment, exercise has been recognized as a complementary and alternative strategy for disease prevention, alleviation, and rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of exercise on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea, physiological modulation, and physical fitness. Participants consisted of university students who were enrolled in the study and divided into a non-PD (Control) and a PD group based on recruiting criteria, the latter being randomly assigned to either an untreated dysmenorrhea group or a dysmenorrhea group that underwent 10 weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise (Dysmen and DysmenHIIT, respectively). The DysmenHIIT group used spinning bikes and the training intensity was validated by heart rate monitors and BORG rating of perceived exertion. Forms containing participant information (premenstrual symptoms, menstrual distress, and a Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire) as well as physical fitness, biochemical variables, hormone and prostaglandin (PGE2 and PGF2α) levels were assessed before and after the exercise intervention. After intervention, premenstrual symptoms (anger, anxiety, depression, activity level, fatigue, etc.), menstrual distress symptoms (cramps, aches, swelling, etc.), and pain severity were shown to be significantly mitigated, possibly through hormone (estradiol, prolactin, progesterone, and cortisol) modulation. Furthermore, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP), PGE2 and PGF2α levels were also down-regulated, resulting in the amelioration of uterine contraction and inflammation. Participants' physical fitness, including cardiovascular endurance and explosive force, was significantly improved after HIIT. The 10-week HIIT spinning bike exercise used in this study could be employed as a potential and complementary treatment for PD symptoms alleviation and considered as part of an educational health plan for promoting women's health. However, the effects of HIIT utilizing different exercise methods and accounting for different age populations and secondary PD warrant further investigation.
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Eight-hour time-restricted feeding improves endocrine and metabolic profiles in women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome.
Li, C, Xing, C, Zhang, J, Zhao, H, Shi, W, He, B
Journal of translational medicine. 2021;19(1):148
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrine and metabolic disorders that affects up to 10% women of childbearing age. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on menstruation, gonadal and metabolic parameters in women with anovulatory PCOS and propose a basis for its inclusion in the treatment of PCOS. This study is a 6-week trial with 2 consecutive periods: (1) 1-week baseline weight stabilization period; and (2) 5-week TRF period. Fifteen subjects were included in the study whose age varied between 18 and 31 years. Results show that five weeks of TRF improved menstruation, gonadal profiles, body weight, body mass index, body composition profiles, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance profiles, decreasing chronic inflammation markers and increasing insulin growth factor –1 [hormone]. Authors conclude that TRF may be suitable for PCOS women with appropriate counselling and patient management.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a form of intermittent fasting, which is beneficial for weight loss and cardiometabolic health. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrine and metabolic diseases affecting women of childbearing age. It is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The effects of TRF on PCOS patients remains undefined, here we investigated the impact of TRF on women with anovulatory PCOS. METHODS Eighteen PCOS women aged between 18 and 31 with anovulation participated in a 6-week trial which were divided into two consecutive periods: (1) 1-week baseline weight stabilization period and (2) 5-week TRF period. Fifteen participants completed the study. Changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), Waist-to-Hip Ratio, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BF%), visceral fat area (VFA), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index (FAI), fasting glucose, fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), area under the curve (AUC) for insulin (AUCIns), area under the curve (AUC) for glucose (AUCGlu), AUCIns/AUCGlu Ratio, lipids, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), menstrual cycle and eating behaviors were evaluated. RESULTS Significant changes in body weight, BMI, BFM, BF%, VFA, TT, SHBG, FAI, FINS, HOMA-IR, AUCIns, AUCIns/AUCGlu Ratio, ALT, hsCRP and IGF-1 were found after the TRF period. An improvement in menstrual cycle irregularity was detected in 73.3% (11/15) patients. CONCLUSION The diet of TRF may be beneficial to anovulatory PCOS on weight loss especially reducing body fat, improving menstruation, hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Trial registration Clinicaltrial.gov, NCT04580433, registered October 8, 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04580433.
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Nutrition in Menopausal Women: A Narrative Review.
Silva, TR, Oppermann, K, Reis, FM, Spritzer, PM
Nutrients. 2021;13(7)
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Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstrual cycles following the loss of ovarian follicular activity. It is associated with increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. The aim of this narrative review was to discuss the current evidence on the association between dietary patterns and clinical endpoints in postmenopausal women (body composition, bone mass, and risk markers for cardiovascular disease), and thereby providing novel insight into the establishment of optimal dietary guidelines for healthy postmenopausal period. Research shows that: - the changes in weight and fat distribution in women are associated with aging and mainly with the decrease in oestradiol levels during peri- and post-menopause. - calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, selenium, magnesium, and beta-carotene adequate intake could be linked with better BMD in postmenopausal women. - diet is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and could be a powerful intervention to reduce cardiovascular risks in postmenopausal women. - the Mediterranean diet is composed of healthy foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Authors indicate that future studies evaluating the effects of low-fat, plant-based diets on fat mass in post-menopausal women are needed.
Abstract
Among the various aspects of health promotion and lifestyle adaptation to the postmenopausal period, nutritional habits are essential because they concern all women, can be modified, and impact both longevity and quality of life. In this narrative review, we discuss the current evidence on the association between dietary patterns and clinical endpoints in postmenopausal women, such as body composition, bone mass, and risk markers for cardiovascular disease. Current evidence suggests that low-fat, plant-based diets are associated with beneficial effects on body composition, but further studies are needed to confirm these results in postmenopausal women. The Mediterranean diet pattern along with other healthy habits may help the primary prevention of bone, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases in the postmenopausal period. It consists on the use of healthy foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and is associated with a small but significant decrease in blood pressure, reduction of fat mass, and improvement in cholesterol levels. These effects remain to be evaluated over a longer period of time, with the assessment of hard outcomes such as bone fractures, diabetes, and coronary ischemia.
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Development and Effects of College-Based Lifestyle Modification Program for Menstrual Health of Young Adult Women with Irregular Menses: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Park, YJ, Shin, H, Jeon, S, Cho, I, Park, HJ
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020;18(1)
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Irregular menstruation is characterized by abnormal uterine bleeding, unpredictable menstrual volume, and irregularity of menstruation. A regular menstrual cycle demonstrates a normal sex hormone profile and functioning of reproductive organs, whereas irregularity may suggest a dysfunctional sex hormone profile or disorder of reproductive organs. This study is a randomised controlled trial intended to develop a College-based Lifestyle Modification Programme (LMP) to improve the menstrual health of young adult women who experienced irregular menstruation less than ten times a year, and its effects on their health. The study has two arms: intervention and control group. Female participants (n=46) were randomly assigned 1:1 to one of the two groups. Results show that the College-based LMP had positive effects on the alleviation of depression and anxiety, and improvement of sleep duration. Whereas there were no significant differences for certain variables (menstrual cycle index, sex hormone binding globulin, testosterone, free androgen index), overall premenstrual syndrome, menstrual volume, body composition parameters, and nutrient intake. Authors conclude that their findings demonstrated the importance of lifestyle modifications, which could provide ordinary young adult women with healthy menstruation. However, further studies with the use of supplements are required to address the limitations of the current study.
Abstract
Purpose: This study was conducted to develop the 'College-based Lifestyle Modification Program' (College-based LMP) for young adult women with irregular menstruation and examine its effects after intervention. Methods: The College-based LMP consisted of small group education, individual physical exercise counseling/training, individual diet counseling, and feedback and support. Participants were comprised of 38 females who reported less than 10 irregular menstruations in a year and were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The primary outcome variables consisted of menstrual cycle index (MCI), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and androgenic profile (testosterone-T, free androgen index-FAI), while the outcome variables included premenstrual symptoms (PMS), menstrual volume, body composition parameters, glycemic parameters (fasting blood sugar-FBS, insulin, HOMA-IR), sleep duration, perceived stress, and nutrient intake.. Results: There were no significant differences in primary outcome variables (MCI, SHBG, T, and FAI). In the variables, there were no significant differences except for the partial domain of PMS (symptoms of depression and anxiety) and sleep duration. Conclusions: The study was significant in that it demonstrated the importance of lifestyle, which could provide ordinary young adult women with healthy menstruation. The College-based LMP needs to be elaborated with further studies.