Study Shows Low-Fat Diet Reduces Disabling Cramps and PMS

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Study Shows Low-Fat Diet Reduces Disabling Cramps and PMS

 

Participants also lose weight, lower cholesterol, gain energy

 

 

Washington, D.C.—Women following a low-fat, vegetarian diet can expect

significant reductions in menstrual pain and PMS symptoms, according to a new

study in the February issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. The research

was conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in

conjunction with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown

University Medical Center, both located in Washington, D.C.

 

" Approximately 10 percent of all women suffer such severe pain during their

menstrual cycles that they're forced to miss work and other activities, " says

Neal D. Barnard, M.D., PCRM president and nutrition researcher.

 

Among the main causes of their pain are chemicals called prostaglandins, made

from traces of fat stored in cell membranes. Dr. Barnard and his colleagues

hypothesized that if women reduced their fat consumption, they'd also decrease

their estrogen levels, which would in turn reduce cell growth and prostaglandin

production. " Our goal was to smooth out the hormonal roller coaster many of them

experience each month, " says Dr. Barnard, who had noticed former patients

overcome terrible menstrual pain after changing to a low-fat diet.

 

" We also hypothesized that high-fiber diets, especially vegetarian diets, would

increase a protein in the blood called sex-hormone binding globulin, which binds

and inactivates estrogen in the bloodstream until it is needed. In essence, it

calms down the hormone swings, " Dr. Barnard says.

 

The hypothesis proved correct. Results for some of the 33 women participating in

the 1997-1998 study were dramatic. Besides a decrease in the intensity of

menstrual pain, the women experienced an average of 1.5 fewer days of pain each

month. " For some women, the change was profound, " Dr. Barnard says.

 

" Their pain was gone or dramatically reduced, something they had not experienced

for years. If they needed any pain medicine at all, they needed much less than

before. "

 

Many women also experienced a significant relief from PMS symptoms, most notably

with water retention and concentration problems. Research participants also

noticed increased energy levels, lower cholesterol levels, and weight reduction.

Some women were so pleased with the effectiveness of the diet that when it was

their turn to go off the vegetarian diet for two months (after two months on the

diet), they refused to give it up.

 

The diet is not likely to help everyone, cautions Dr. Barnard, but it does seem

to help most women, and rather quickly, too. " I would encourage women to try it

carefully for one month. That's enough time to see its effects. "

 

For copies of the study or interviews with the researchers or research

participants, please call PCRM communications director Simon Chaitowitz at

202-686-2210, ext. 309, or e-mail <simonc.

 

http://www.pcrm.org/news/health000131.html

http://www.pcrm.org/news/health000131_ftfp_ch.html

 

 

(The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a Washington, D.C.-based

nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and focused on preventive medicine,

particularly good nutrition, and higher standards in research)

 

 

 

> Hey I had another thought. What if a mild lactose intolerance (like an

> asymptomatic allergy) upsets the menstrual cycle among other things? Anyone

ask a

> doctor about any of this? Now I'm just so curious, I have to know. This

weekend,

> I might have some time to research.

--

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[ Note to self ] : Don't waste time researching when you can just ask anji.

 

anji b wrote:

 

> EMBARGOED UNTIL 5:00 P.M. (EST)

> MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2000

>

> Study Shows Low-Fat Diet Reduces Disabling Cramps and PMS

>

> Participants also lose weight, lower cholesterol, gain energy

> ... <deleted> ...