The effect of dietary intake on hot flashes in menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the relation between dietary intake and menopausal hot flashes.


METHODS
Two studies are reported: a controlled, repeated-measures study and a descriptive study.


METHODS
The controlled study was conducted in a general clinical research center of a large Midwestern university. The descriptive study was conducted in a metropolitan community in the Southwest.


METHODS
Ten healthy symptomatic postmenopausal women participated in the controlled study and 21 symptomatic women completed the observational study.


METHODS
The controlled study included a 30-hour intensive blood sampling protocol of two sequential experimental phases with an observational phase between them. In the observational phase, each participant served protocol-specific meals and snacks at predetermined times.


METHODS
Skin conductance monitoring provided continual assessment while blood glucose levels were analyzed every 30 minutes in the controlled study.


RESULTS
Eating provided a hot flash-free period that averaged 90 minutes in both studies. Also, hot flash frequency increased as time between meals increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Our evidence indicates that hot flash frequency is suppressed after eating, while hot flashes are experienced when blood glucose falls between meals. Nursing interventions aimed at maintaining stability in blood glucose level may be effective in reducing menopausal hot flashes.
Dormire
Sharon
S
School of Nursing, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78701-1499, USA. sdormire@mail.nur.utexs.edu
Howharn
Chularat
C
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D016387:Women's Health
D001786:Blood Glucose