Higher intake of dietary n-3 PUFA and lower MUFA are associated with fewer menopausal symptoms

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary fat quality and menopausal symptoms.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study with 393 Iranian postmenopausal women. Dietary intakes and menopausal symptoms were assessed, using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a menopausal rating scale (MRS) questionnaire, respectively. Participants were divided into low and high total MRS and its domain scores.

Results: Women in the highest quartiles of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) had higher somatic symptoms compared with women in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR] 3.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–9.95). Women in the highest quartiles of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.32–1.05), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.37–1.20), and n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.25–0.97) had lower somatic symptoms compared to the lowest quartiles. The OR for psychological symptoms decreased from the lowest to the highest quartiles of n-3 PUFA (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.20–1.11) and n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24–0.86). Higher intakes of EPA (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.29–0.99) and docosahexaenoic acid (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.27–0.95) were found to be related with fewer urogenital symptoms.

Conclusion: Consuming diets low in MUFA intake, but high in n-3 PUFA, and with a more favorable ratio of n-3:n-6 PUFA may be helpful for improving menopausal symptoms.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在探讨膳食脂肪质量与绝经症状之间的关系。

方法：我们对393名伊朗绝经后女性进行了横断面研究。应用已经验证的食物频率问卷评估膳食摄入量, 更年期评定量表（MRS）问卷评估更年期症状。受试者根据MRS得分的高低及区域得分分组。

结果：与最低四分位数的女性相比, 单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFA）最高四分位数的女性具有较明显的躯体化症状（比值比[OR] 3.41; 95%置信区间[CI] 1.17-9.95）。n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）（OR 0.58; 95%CI 0.32-1.05）, 二十碳五烯酸（EPA）（OR 0.66; 95%CI 0.37-1.20）和n-3：n-6 PUFA组的最高四分位数女性 （OR 0.49; 95%CI 0.25-0.97）与最低四分位数女性相比躯体化症状表现较弱。心理症状的OR值从n-3 PUFA的最低四分位数至最高四分位数（OR 0.47; 95%CI 0.20-1.11）以及n-3：n-6 PUFA比率（OR 0.46; 95%CI 0.24-0.86）均在减退。发现高摄入EPA（OR 0.53; 95%CI 0.29-0.99）和二十二碳六烯酸（OR 0.51; 95%CI 0.27-0.95）与泌尿生殖系统症状减少有关。

结论：消费饮食中MUFA的低摄入, n-3 PUFA的高摄入, n-3：n-6 PUFA比例较高, 可能有助于改善绝经症状。

KEYWORD:

• Dietary fat quality
• omega-3 fatty acids
• n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio
• menopausal symptoms
• vasomotor symptoms

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences [Grant No. 32419-161-02-95].