The effect of diet and aerobic exercise on Premenstrual Syndrome: Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and diet in female students with Premenstrual Syndrome Scale who were studying at the public university. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a public university in 2018. The population of the study was composed of all female first graders (N=426). The female students were followed-up for two cycles, premenstrual syndrome scale was administered to the students and premenstrual syndrome was found in 43.8% (n=187). However, 106 female students were included in the study divided in three groups (diet, aerobic exercise, control). The diet and aerobic exercise were administered during the three months. Results There was no significant difference in premenstrual syndrome scale mean scores between the post-intervention groups. However, the mean premenstrual syndrome score of the diet and aerobic exercise groups decreased significantly after the intervention. There was a significant difference in visual analogue scale score between the groups after intervention. Besides the students in exercise and diet groups experienced less dysmenorrhea intensity than the control group. Conclusion It was found that diet and aerobic exercise were effective in reducing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea intensity in female students with premenstrual syndrome.

Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its psychological effects among university students who participate and do not participate in resistance training

“…Regarding psychological symptoms, women who did not exercise had more difficulty concentrating. This difference may be associated with the ability of exercise to increase adrenal cortisol levels, which aids concentration and balances mood changes and thus improves focus (Cicek, 2018;Virk et al, 2019;Abebe et al, 2019), especially during regular activities, which generates positive effects on both attention and academic performance. For university students, this effect is relevant to academic performance because concentration in school leads to better understanding of the studied subjects, thus generating high grades in evaluative activities and self-confidence among students (De Greeff et al, 2018).…”

“…The students who exercised felt less pressured and less out of control than those who did not participate in resistance training. Active women are more selfconfident, indicating that physical exercise is responsible for reducing pessimistic thoughts and making women more optimistic (Maged et al, 2018;Virk et al, 2019). Physical exercise helps reduce PMS symptoms due to the production of beta-endorphins in the brain that increase feelings of pleasure and well-being (Mohebbi- Dehnavi et al, 2018;Abebe et al, 2019) and prevent diseases such as depression and anxiety, which are common among university populations (Foster et al, 2019;Yilmaz-Akyuz and Aydin-Kartal, 2019).…”

“…The lack of physical fitness resulting from inactivity can accentuate fatigue. In contrast, physical exercise improves cardiovascular activity and, consequently, oxygenation (Virk et al, 2019), delaying symptoms of fatigue. In addition, the endorphins produced during physical exercise have a relaxing effect, which is another reason why physically active women do not feel as fatigued as women who do not exercise (Cicek, 2018;Yilmaz-Akyuz and Aydin-Kartal, 2019).…”

Effect of Walking on Physiological Stress in Premenstrual Syndrome:A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…It has a negative influence on young females' lives, which can lead to reduced work efficiency and quality of work, increased accidents and lack of school attendance. As a result, there is a need to develop treatment protocols for coping with premenstrual symptoms (20). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of walking on physiological stress in PMS .…”

Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Providing Self-Care Recommendations for the Management of Premenstrual Syndrome

“…A variety of treatments are used to relieve PMS symptoms. For women with mild symptoms, supportive counseling, education, increased exercise, and eating a healthy diet are effective counter-strategies [3,4], but pharmacological treatment is needed for more severe PMS. For instance, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, and oral contraceptives are used to temporarily eliminate PMS symptoms [5,6].…”