Effects of the menopausal transition on dietary intake and appetite: a MONET Group Study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in dietary intake and appetite across the menopausal transition.


METHODS
This was a 5-year observational, longitudinal study on the menopausal transition. The study included 94 premenopausal women at baseline (age: 49.9±1.9 years; BMI: 23.3±2.3 kg/m2). Body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), appetite (visual analogue scale), eating frequency, energy intake (EI) and macronutrient composition (7-day food diary and buffet-type meal) were measured annually.


RESULTS
Repeated-measures analyses revealed that total EI and carbohydrate intake from food diary decreased significantly over time in women who became postmenopausal by year 5 (P>0.05) compared with women in the menopausal transition. In women who became postmenopausal by year 5, fat and protein intakes decreased across the menopausal transition (0.05>P<0.01). Although a decrease in % fat intake was observed during the menopausal transition (P<0.05), this variable was significantly increased in the postmenopausal years (P<0.05). Spontaneous EI and protein intake also declined over time and were higher in the years preceding menopause onset (P<0.05). Desire to eat, hunger and prospective food consumption increased during the menopausal transition and remained at this higher level in the postmenopausal years (0.05>P<0.001). Fasting fullness decreased across the menopausal transition (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that menopausal transition is accompanied with a decrease in food intake and an increase in appetite.
Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
K
K
Duval
School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
D
D
Prud'homme
1] Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, QC, Canada [2] Service d'endocrinologie, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada [3] Département de Nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
R
R
Rabasa-Lhoret
1] Département de Nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada [2] Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.
I
I
Strychar
1] Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada [2] Research Centre on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre, University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
M
M
Brochu
Department of Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
J-M
JM
Lavoie
School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
E
E
Doucet
D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins