Menstrual Cycle Hormones and Eating Behavior (FL-84)

Effect of Menstrual Cycle Hormone Changes on Eating Behavior and Nutrient Metabolism

The purpose of this study is to determine if the phase of the menstrual cycle (opposed versus unopposed estrogen phase) affects eating behavior, including types of foods preferred, wanting/desire for specific foods, and perception of hunger.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Dietary Habits; Food Preference

Detailed Description

This is an observational study to investigate the effect of endogenous estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels on eating behavior and energy-yielding nutrient metabolism. Eating behavior will be assessed during a complete menstrual cycle during the first month of the study. Participants will track the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycle using urinary leuteinizing hormone (LH) kits, they will record information about their food intake, eating behaviors, and appetite in their home environments, and they will complete two laboratory test days: one test day scheduled during their follicular phase, and one test day scheduled during their luteal phase.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 24

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Davis, California, United States, 95616
      • USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy, premenopausal women.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index between 20-30 Kg/m2
• regular menstrual cycles
• sedentary lifestyle (physical activity not more than 30 minutes per day three times a week)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fasting blood sugar greater than 110 mg/dL
• Systolic Blood Pressure greater than 140 mmHg
• Diastolic Blood Pressure greater than 90 mmHg
• Fasting triglycerides greater than 120 mg/dL
• Documented or self-reported chronic disorders such as arthritis, or other inflammatory diseases
• Women who are Post-menopausal or Peri-menopausal
• Pre-menopausal women who are pregnant, uni/multiparous, taking oral contraceptives, or who have menstrual cycles lasting less than 20 days or greater than 45 days, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), amenorrhea, eumenorrhoea, or polymenorrhoea.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Eating behavior	Eating behavior, including types of foods preferred, wanting/desire for specific foods, and perception of hunger will be measured using four questionnaires; Eating inventory: to assess dietary restraint, Stanford Brief Physical Activity Questionnaire, Food craving questionnaire, Eating behavior and attitudes questionnaire	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Insulin sensitivity	To determine if the phase of the menstrual cycle affects insulin sensitivity, we will measure plasma insulin, glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA).	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Serum lipid profile changes	Blood samples will be analyzed for lipids and lipoproteins, including apoproteins A1, B, C-II, C-III, and E.	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Urinary c-peptide	The level of urinary C-peptide and creatinine will be measured in a 24-hour urine collection.	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Estradiol	Estradiol measured in serum in relation to appetite variables	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
progesterone	Progesterone measured in serum in relation to appetite variables	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)	Dehydroepiandrosterone measured in serum in relation to appetite variables	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)	SHBG measured in serum in relation to appetite variables	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Endocannabinoid profile	Endocannabinoid profile measured in serum to assess appetite	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle
Leptin	Leptin measured in serum to assess appetite	At follicular (day 11) and luteal (day 26) phase of menstrual cycle

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: USDA, Western Human Nutrition Research Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nancy Keim, PhD, USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Krishnan S, Agrawal K, Tryon RR, Welch LC, Horn WF, Newman JW, Keim NL. Structural equation modeling of food craving across the menstrual cycle using behavioral, neuroendocrine, and metabolic factors. Physiol Behav. 2018 Oct 15;195:28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.07.011. Epub 2018 Jul 18.
• Krishnan S, Tryon RR, Horn WF, Welch L, Keim NL. Estradiol, SHBG and leptin interplay with food craving and intake across the menstrual cycle. Physiol Behav. 2016 Oct 15;165:304-12. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.08.010. Epub 2016 Aug 12.

Helpful Links

• United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 29, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): August 2, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 5, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2017
• Last Verified: December 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: menstrual cycle; estrogen
• Other Study ID Numbers: WHNRC 221594-1