Influence of dietary fat on menstrual cycle and menses length.
Menstrual cycle and menses lengths were determined in 31 healthy premenopausal women randomized into one of two sets of weight-maintaining diets, those with a ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P/S ratio) of 1.0 and those with a P/S ratio of 0.3. After a baseline interval of one menstrual cycle, both groups were fed a high fat diet (40 per cent energy from fat) for four menstrual cycles per subject, followed by a similar interval on a low fat diet (20 per cent energy from fat). There was a significant increase of 1.3 d (P = 0.02) in the average menstrual cycle length and 0.5 d (P = 0.01) in menses length on the low fat diet. Although no significant differences were evident between the P/S groups, the effect of low fat on menstrual cycle and menses length was most pronounced in the P/S = 1.0 group.
Jones
D Y
DY
Cancer Prevention Studies Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Judd
J T
JT
Taylor
P R
PR
Campbell
W S
WS
Nair
P P
PP
D000328:Adult; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated