Adiposity and the Development of Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 8%-20% of premenopausal women and causes substantial levels of impairment, but few modifiable risk factors for PMS have been identified. Adiposity may impact risk through the complex interaction of hormonal and neurochemical factors, but it is not known if adiposity increases a woman's risk of developing PMS. We have addressed these issues in a prospective study nested within the Nurses' Health Study 2. Methods: Participants were a subset of women aged 27-44 and free from PMS at baseline, including 1057 women who developed PMS over 10 years of follow-up and 1968 controls. Body mass index (BMI), weight change and weight cycling were assessed biennially via questionnaire. Results: We observed a strong linear relationship between BMI at baseline and risk of incident PMS, with each 1 kg=m 2 increase in BMI associated with a significant 3% increase in PMS risk (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05). After adjustment for age, smoking, physical activity, and other factors, women with BMI 27.5 kg=m 2 at baseline had significantly higher risks of PMS than women with BMI <20 kg=m 2 ( p trend ¼ 0.003). A large weight change between age 18 and the year 1991 was significantly associated with PMS risk, whereas weight cycling during this period was not. BMI was positively associated with specific symptoms, including swelling of extremities, backache, and abdominal cramping (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that maintaining a healthy body mass may be important for preventing the development of PMS. Additional studies are needed to assess whether losing weight would benefit overweight and obese women who currently experience PMS.

Factors Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome and its Different Symptom Domains among University Students in Lebanon

“…A cross-sectional study conducted among 874 women aged 18 to 44 reported that obese women had almost a three-fold increased risk for PMS compare to underweight women [24]. Furthermore, another prospective study conducted among women free from PMS at baseline (n = 1057) and aged 27 to 44-years-old found that obese women at baseline had significantly higher risks of developing PMS over 10 years of follow-up [25]. It is thought that obesity modifies neurotransmitter function through its effect on estrogen and progesterone.…”

“…Estrogen enhances serotonin action by increasing its synthesis, transport, reuptake and receptor expression, and postsynaptic responsiveness. Therefore, lower estradiol levels associated with adiposity may lead to impaired serotonin function and contribute to the occurrence of PMS [25].…”

Reproductive and demographic Predictors' of premenstrual syndrome severity among university students

“…This controversy might be sample size, cultural and socioeconomic differences. Un fortunately, the findings of this study don't support that BMI to be a predictors variable that might affect PMS as more than half from the study sample(61.1 %) reported severe PMS.This results are not supported by Seedhom, (20)who reported that obese women were more likely to have sever PMS thanamong normal weight.Also, Study conducted by Bertone, (21)found that BMI was also positively associated with risk of specific physical and emotional symptoms, including swelling of the extremities, backache, abdominal cramping, diarrhea/constipation, mood swings, and food cravings. This disagreement between our results and other studies might be due to differences in BMI categories, sample size differences, differences in subjects age and educational activity as well as, practicing exercises or not.…”

A specific profile of luteal phase progesterone is associated with the development of premenstrual symptoms

“…PMS and PMDD are undoubtedly multifactorial; at least three clinical subtypes have been recognised Freeman et al, 2011). Risk factors include high body mass index, stress, smoking, and early life emotional and physical abuse (Bertone-Johnson et al, 2010; 4 of progesterone: production increases rapidly following ovulation and remains elevated throughout the luteal phase, before returning to basal levels prior to the onset of menstruation. Progesterone passes readily through the blood brain barrier (Pardridge et al, 1980).…”