Nutritional practices to manage menstrual cycle-related symptoms: A systematic review

The effects of food and supplement interventions on menstrual symptoms

While certain dietary strategies may help alleviate menstrual symptoms, there is no clear agreement on which foods or supplements are reliably effective for naturally menstruating individuals. This systematic review by Brown et al. (2024), conducted following PRISMA guidelines, examined experimental studies from two online databases to assess the effects of food and supplement interventions on menstrual symptoms in eumenorrheic women. Data from 28 studies involving 21 different dietary interventions were analyzed and compared against UK dietary reference values and safe intake limits. No studies reported adverse effects; 23 showed symptom improvement, while 5 reported no change. However, inconsistencies in how menstrual symptoms were defined and measured—along with varied dosages and durations—limit the ability to form definitive recommendations. Preliminary evidence suggests that vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and curcumin may individually help reduce symptoms in women not using hormonal contraceptives. Nonetheless, more rigorous and standardized research is needed before these can be broadly recommended, with a focus on consistent dosing and reliable symptom measurement. [NPID: Menstrual cycle, women, food, diet, supplement, symptoms]

Year: 2024

Reference: Brown, N., Martin, D., Waldron, M., Bruinvels, G., Farrant, L., & Fairchild, R. (2024). Nutritional practices to manage menstrual cycle-related symptoms: A systematic review. Nutrition Research Reviews, 37(2), 352–375. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422423000227