Relationship between Diet, Menstrual Pain and other Menstrual Characteristics among Spanish Students.
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2020
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Nutrients
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Abstract
This study sought to describe and compare adherence to the Mediterranean diet and
consumption of local foods from the Huelva region among Spanish university women in relation to
menstrual pain and other menstrual characteristics. This cross-sectional study included 311 health
science students. The study variables were sociodemographic and gynecologic characteristics,
adherence to the Mediterranean diet using the KIDMED questionnaire, alcohol consumption (SDU)
and consumption of local food. A descriptive bivariate analysis and multiple binary regression were
performed for menstrual pain. Up to 55.3% of participants had moderate adherence to the
Mediterranean diet and only 29.6% had high adherence. Women with low adherence had longer
menstrual cycles (p < 0.01). Eating less than two pieces of fruit per day (OR = 3.574; 95%CI = 1.474–
8.665; p < 0.05) and eating pulses more than one day a week (OR = 2.320; 95%CI = 1.006–5.348) raised
the probability of suffering menstrual pain. A positive correlation between SDU and cycle length
was identified (r = 0.119, p = 0.038), and menstrual bleeding was lower in women who consumed
olive oil daily (p = 0.044). In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet, alcohol consumption and
consuming typical foods from southern Spain appear to influence cycle length, menstrual flow and
menstrual pain. Further research is necessary to confirm and expand these findings.
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Keywords
Mediterranean diet, Menstrual disorder