Intake of dietary soy isoflavones in relation to perimenstrual symptoms of Korean women living in the USA

Estrous cycle modulates the anxiogenic effects of caffeine in the elevated plus maze and light/dark box in female rats

Caffeine is a commonly used stimulant of the central nervous system that reduces fatigue, increases alertness, and exerts positive effects on emotion through actions on various brain structures. High doses of caffeine can cause headaches, heart palpitations, hyperactivity, and anxiety symptoms. Consequently, reducing the consumption of stimulant substances, such as sugar and caffeine, is proposed to ameliorate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in women. The administration of steroid hormones has been suggested to modulate the effects of caffeine, but unknown is whether endogenous hormone variations during the estrous cycle modulate the pharmacological effects of caffeine. The present study evaluated the effects of caffeine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) during metestrus-diestrus and proestrus-estrus of the ovarian cycle in rats on anxiety-like behavior using the elevated plus maze and light/dark box. During metestrus-diestrus, all doses of caffeine increased anxiety-like behavior, indicated by the main variables in both behavioral tests (i.e., higher Anxiety Index and lower percent time spent on the open arms in the elevated plus maze and less time spent in the light compartment in the light/dark box). During proestrus-estrus, only 20 and 40 mg/kg caffeine increased these parameters of anxiety-like behavior, albeit only slightly. In conclusion, caffeine increased anxiety-like behaviors in metestrus-diestrus, with an attenuation of these effects of lower doses of caffeine in proestrus-estrus. These effects that were observed in metestrus-diestrus and proestrus-estrus may be associated with low and high concentrations of steroid hormones, respectively, that naturally occur during these phases of the ovarian cycle.

Vitex Agnus-Castus for the Treatment of Cyclic Mastalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Cyclic mastalgia (CM) is premenstrual bilateral and diffuse breast pain that presents cyclically and affects women in their reproductive years. It may associate with latent hyperprolactinemia due to the insufficient inhibitory effect of dopamine on the pituitary gland. Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is known for its dopaminergic activity and its possible actions on CM and latent hyperprolactinemia. However, the treatment effect of VAC on CM remains unclear. Materials and Methods: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that report on the efficacy of VAC treatment in CM patients, literature search was performed in major research databases. Results: This review includes 25 studies (17 randomized control trials plus eight nonrandomized trials). VAC was effective in relieving breast pain intensity and lowering the increased serum prolactin level in reproductive age CM patients (18-45 years) with or without premenstrual syndromes. Typical dosage was 20-40 mg/day with a treatment duration of 3 months. A conservative meta-analysis included only six studies (n = 718, VAC = 356, placebo = 362) and revealed a moderate effect size (SMD: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.5-0.85) favoring VAC over a placebo. Seven trials demonstrated VAC to be a noninferior alternative to pharmaceutical therapies for CM, including dopamine agonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and hormonal contraceptives. VAC was safe and associated with only mild and reversible adverse events. However, the risk of bias in most studies was unclear due to insufficient information. Conclusions: VAC is a safe and effective treatment option for CM. More high-quality clinical trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base.

Pengaruh Pendidikan Gizi Terhadap Pengetahuan, Sikap Dan Perilaku Konsumsi Pangan Isoflavon Pada Mahasiswi Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Background: The age group susceptible to symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome begins in the early stages of puberty and ends at the menopause stage.The pathophysiology of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome is due to an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone hormones. One of the balancers of both hormones is the consumption of isoflavone food because the structure and its properties resemble estrogen.Objectives: The Purpose of this study was to analyzed the effect of nutritional education on the knowledge, attitude and behavior high food consumption of isoflavone content among female pre-menstrual syndrome.Method: The study was quasy experiment with pre- post control group design. The design of this research was the provision of nutrition education four times for 1 month with duration of each meeting 60 minutes and the provision of soy milk every meeting. The sample technique using simple random sampling total 38 respondents divided into 2 groups (treatment and control group). Preliminary screening to assess PMS using the Shortened Pramenstrual Assessment Form (SPAF) questionnaire. Dependent variable was knowledge, attitude and consumption behavior of isoflavone food, while independent variable was nutrition education.The analysis was performed using Independent t-test.Result: After nutrition education there was significant difference of knowledge and attitude level between treatment and control group respectively p value 0.039 and 0.022. In addition, there were also differences in high food consumption behavior of isoflavone content. The majority of food types are often consumed including: fried tempeh (p = 0.044), tofu (p = 0.036), garlic (p = 0.014) ice soybean milk (p = 0.044) and soybean milk (p = 0.004).Conclusion: Provision of nutrition education to the treatment group can change knowledge, attitude and behavior of high food consumption of isoflavone content, with the existence of increasing consumption behavior, than pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms at student of FKM UNAIR decreased slowly. Although not all types of foods high levels of isoflavones consumed by respondents due to limited time research.ABSTRAKLatar belakang: Kelompok umur yang rentan mengalami gejala Pre-Menstrual Syndrome dimulai pada tahap awal pubertas dan berakhir pada tahap menopause. Patofisiologi Pre-Menstrual Syndrome terjadi karena ketidakseimbangan hormon estrogen dan progesteron. Salah satu penyeimbang kedua hormon yaitu konsumsi pangan isoflavon karena struktur dan sifatnya menyerupai estrogen.Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk menganalisis pengaruh pendidikan gizi terhadap pengetahuan, sikap dan perilakukonsumsi pangan tinggi kadar isoflavon pada mahasiswi dengan premenstrual syndrome.Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitianquasi experiment dengan pendekatan pre-post control group design. Rancang bangun penelitian ini yaitu pemberian intervensi pendidikan gizi 4x pertemuan selama 1 bulan dengan durasi masing-masing pertemuan 60 menit dan pemberian susu kedelai setiap pertemuan. Tehnik sampel menggunakan simple random sampling total 38 responden dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok (kelompok perlakuan dan kontrol). Skrining awal untuk menilai PMSmenggunakan kuesioner Shortened Pramenstrual Assessment Form (SPAF). Variabel dependen adalah pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku konsumsi pangan isoflavon, sedangkan variabel independen pendidikan gizi. Analisis yang dilakukan menggunakan uji t Independent.Hasil: Setelah diberikan pendidikan gizi terdapat perbedaan signifkan tingkat pegetahuan dan sikap antara kelompok perlakuan dan kontrol dengan nilai p masing-masing 0,039 dan 0,022. Selain itu juga terdapat perbedaan perilaku konsumsi pangan tinggi kadar isoflavon mayoritas jenis makanan sering dikonsumsi meliputi:tempe goreng (p=0,044), tahu (p=0,036), bawang putih (p=0,014) es susu kedelai (p=0,044) dan susu kedelai (p=0,004).Kesimpulan: Pemberian intervensi pendidikan gizi kepada kelompok perlakuan dapat merubah pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku konsumsi pangan tinggi kadar isoflavon, dengan adanya perilaku konsumsi yang meningkat, maka gejala pre-menstrual syndrome pada mahasiswi FKM UNAIR juga menurun secara perlahan. Walaupun belum semua jenis makanan yang tinggi kadar isoflavon dikonsumsi oleh responden dikarenakan keterbatasan waktu penelitian.

Church-Based Recruitment to Reach Korean Immigrants: An Integrative Review

Although the Korean church has been frequently used to recruit Korean immigrants in research, little is known about the specific strategies and process. The purpose of this integrative review was to describe recruitment strategies in studies of Korean immigrants and to identify the process of Korean church-based recruitment. Thirty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Four stages of church-based recruitment were identified: initiation, endorsement, advertisement, and implementation. This review identified aspects of the church-based recruitment process in Korean immigrants, which are different from the Black and Hispanic literature, due to their hierarchical culture and language barriers. Getting permission from pastors and announcing the study by pastors at Sunday services were identified as the key components of the process. Using the church newsletter to advertise the study was the most effective strategy for the advertisement stage. Despite several limitations, church-based recruitment is a very feasible and effective way to recruit Korean immigrants.

The relationship between food frequency and menstrual distress in high school females

Background:

Nutrition pattern is one of the important factors predicting menstrual distress, which varies among different cultures and countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between food frequency and menstrual distress in high school girls from Mashhad.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 using a two-stage sampling method on 407 high school female students from Mashhad who met the inclusion criteria. Subjects completed questionnaires of demographic characteristics, food frequency, and Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) during three phases of the menstrual cycle (a week before bleeding, during menstrual bleeding period, and a week after menstruation). The collected data were analyzed by statistical tests such as Pearson correlation coefficient test, independent Student's t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results:

Results showed that 87.7% of the students were at moderate economic status, 82.2% were exposed to cigarette smoke, 94.8% had mothers without university education, and 9.4% had working mothers. About 71% of the students reported minor pre-menstruation distress, 81% reported minor distress during bleeding, and 39% reported minor post-menstruation distress. In addition, the mean (SD) values for sweet–fatty foods, salty–fatty foods, fast foods, and caffeine were 3.6, 3.3, 1.3, and 10.2 per week, respectively. In addition, Pearson correlation coefficient test showed no significant correlation between total menstruation distress and food frequency (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

With regard to the inappropriate food frequency and high intensity of menstrual distress among high school students and as health care and educational efforts for prevention and health promotion in society are among the duties of health workers, the results of this study can help the officials involved in education to emphasize on nutrition and the menstrual health of students.

A Comprehensive Review of Treatment Options for Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that involves a combination of emotional and physical symptoms that result in significant functional impairment. Because of the debilitating nature of PMDD, multiple treatment options have been considered. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these therapeutic regimens to help health care professionals provide adequate treatment for PMDD and premenstrual syndrome. The treatments that are reviewed are organized into the following categories: psychiatric, anovulatory, supplements, herbal, nonpharmacological, and other. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been established as the first-line treatment for PMDD. Although luteal phase or continuous dosing can be used, additional research is needed to more thoroughly compare the efficacies and differential symptom response of continuous, semi-intermittent, luteal phase, and symptoms-onset dosing. The psychiatric medications venlafaxine, duloxetine, alprazolam, and buspirone have also been found to be useful treatments for PMDD. Various anovulatory-related treatments have demonstrated efficacy; however, the use of some of these treatments remains limited due to potential side effects and/or the availability of cheaper alternatives. Although a variety of supplement and herbal-related treatments have been proposed, with some warranting further research, at this time only calcium supplementation has demonstrated a consistent therapeutic benefit. In conclusion, serotoninergic antidepressants have been established as the first-line treatment option for PMDD; however, there are a variety of additional treatment options that should be considered if a patient fails to achieve an adequate therapeutic response with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

The premenstrual syndrome revisited

More women - and their families - are affected by the physical and psychological irregularities due to premenstrual symptoms than by any other condition. Up to 90% of women of childbearing age report perceiving one or more symptoms during the days before menstruation, symptoms which can alter their behaviour and wellbeing and which, therefore, can affect their family, social and work circle. However, and notwithstanding this general prevalence, the clinical entity that in a large number of cases results from these symptoms, commonly known as the premenstrual syndrome, still lacks defined and validated contents so that recommendations of treatments backed by adequate experimental and clinical evidence are only slowly appearing. In the present paper, we review recent experimental data as to a possible aetiology of the premenstrual problem. We propose a Premenstrual Profile, i.e. a new register of symptoms, to be used for the differential diagnosis of the three forms of the premenstrual alteration. Finally, we review the evidence-based recommendations from reliable sources as regards the treatment of "normal" and "abnormal" premenstrual symptoms.