Severity of hot flushes is inversely associated with dietary intake of vitamin B6 and oily fish

Body weight and body fat are negatively associated with severe dyspareunia in postmenopausal women

AIM

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the factors associated with dyspareunia in pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal Japanese women participating in the health and nutrition education program at a menopause clinic.

METHODS

First-visit records of 1702 pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal Japanese women (aged 40-79 years) were analyzed. The relationship between severe dyspareunia and background characteristics was examined by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The average age of the participants was 53.0 ± 6.3 years. The percentage of women who suffered from severe dyspareunia in the pre-, peri-, postmenopausal, and the hormone therapy receiving groups were 7.1%, 10.5%, 14.6%, and 7.8%, respectively. In the postmenopausal group, the percentage of women affected by severe dyspareunia was the highest between 2 and 5 years after menopause (18.8%), presumably owing to the gradual postmenopausal decline in the number of sexually active women. In sexually active postmenopausal women, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage (BF%) differed significantly among those who had severe dyspareunia (N = 119) and those who did not (N = 334). BMI and BF% were negatively associated with severe dyspareunia, even after adjustment for age and years since menopause (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: BMI, 0.894 [0.825-0.964], p = 0.003; BF%, 0.947 [0.909-0.985], p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI and BF% were negatively associated with dyspareunia in sexually active postmenopausal women. In addition to aging, the loss of body weight and fat could negatively impact intercourse in sexually active postmenopausal women.

Vasomotor symptoms, sleep problems, and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling Japanese women

Aim

To assess prevalence and characteristics of vasomotor symptoms in community‐dwelling Japanese women.

Methods

These were cross‐sectional analyses using data from the National Institute for Longevity Sciences‐Longitudinal Study of Aging. The main outcome measures were prevalence and severity of hot flashes and sweating. Associations between hot flashes/sweating (slight, moderate, or severe vs none) and sleep problems were explored using logistic regression, with and without adjustment for age, daily physical activity, and number of urinations/night. Associations between hot flashes/sweating and sleep problems, depressive symptoms, and dietary variables were explored in logistic regression models or general linear models.

Results

A total of 1152 women between 40 and 91 years of age were enrolled. Hot flashes were reported by 24.5% of participants; with prevalence and severity highest in those 50–54 years or 2–5 years postmenopause. Sleep problems were reported 15 percentage points more frequently by women who reported hot flashes than by those without hot flashes. Adjusted odds ratios [95% CI] for difficulty in falling asleep and difficulty in sleeping through were 2.09 [1.565–2.796] and 2.07 [1.549–2.763]), respectively. Also, hot flashes were associated with higher risk of depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 2.99 [2.07–4.32]) and lower life satisfaction, self‐esteem, and self‐rated health status. A similar pattern was observed in women with and without sweating. No associations were found between hot flashes and dietary factors.

Conclusions

Clear associations were found between hot flashes and sleeping problems, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Women who reported hot flashes also reported worse mental and physical health than those who did not report hot flashes.

Independent association of palpitation with vasomotor symptoms and anxiety in middle-aged women

OBJECTIVE

Palpitation, or the sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeats, is common in menopausal women; however, the precise underlying mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to investigate factors associated with palpitation in middle-aged women.

METHODS

Medical records of 394 women aged 40 to 59 years (108 premenopausal, 85 perimenopausal, and 201 postmenopausal) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Palpitation severity was estimated based on responses to the Menopausal Symptom Scale. Effects of background characteristics, including age, menopausal status, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, basal metabolism, physical fitness, lifestyle factors, vasomotor, and psychological symptoms on palpitation were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The association between autonomic nervous system activity and palpitation was also analyzed in 198 participants.

RESULTS

Prevalence of palpitation by severity was as follows: none, 26.4%; mild, 32.7%; moderate, 29.4%; severe, 11.4%. In univariate analyses, the more severely the women were affected by palpitation, 1) the higher their systolic blood pressure, 2) the less exercise they performed, 3) the lower they scored in the sit-and-reach test, 4) the higher their vasomotor symptoms score in the Menopausal Health Related-Quality of Life questionnaire, and 5) the higher their Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that moderate to severe palpitation was independently associated with the vasomotor symptom score (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.18 [1.07-1.31]) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety subscale score (1.19 [1.12-1.27]).

CONCLUSIONS

Rapid or irregular heartbeats are highly prevalent in middle-aged women. It is not associated with age, menopausal status, heart rate, arrhythmia, autonomic nervous system activity, caffeine, or alcohol consumption, but with vasomotor symptoms and anxiety.

The Role of Vitamin B6 in Women's Health

Vitamin B6, a cofactor in many biochemical reactions in the cells of living organisms, is an essential coenzyme for various catabolic and anabolic processes. Although vitamin B6 deficiency in young healthy women with a balanced diet is thought to be unusual, it can be seen with certain medications, health conditions, and dietary deficits, as well as aging. Vitamin B6 deficiency is associated with a variety of ill health effects, and correction of deficiency is considered beneficial. Women particularly are affected by unique health issues that are part of the array of disorders potentially alleviated through vitamin B6 supplementation.