Endocrine Abstracts

Menopause defines the period in which women’s menstrual periods cease permanently, significant hormonal changes begin, and fertility is lost. In addition to the fact that menopause causes body weight gain, it has been found that body weight gain can negatively affect the menopausal process. In this study, the relationship between food consumption and body composition changes that may be caused by the menopause period and menopausal symptoms was investigated. In the study, 66 menopausal women without any chronic disease were evaluated through sociodemographicform, anthropometric measurements, menopausal symptoms evaluation scale (MRS), and 3-day food consumption record. Participants were evaluated as two groups, MRS<15 (n:16) and MRS>15 (n:50). The mean age of the participants evaluated in the study was 51.7±4.6 years. It was found that the mean menopause age was 48±3, the mean time spent at menopause was 3±2 years, and the mean body weight gain during the menopause period was 6±4 kg. The mean MRS total score was 22±10, the somatic complaints factor mean score was 8±4, the psychological complaints factor mean was 8±5, and the urogenital complaints factor mean was 5±3. It was found that the averages of body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference (cm), hip circumference (cm), and neck circumference (cm) of the women with MRS>15 were significantly higher than the averages of the woman with MRS<15 (P<0.05). Dietary intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and eicosapentaenoic acid were positively correlated with somatic complaints in menopausal women (P<0.01), the amount of protein consumption (P<0.01), and animal protein ratio (P<0.05) in menopausal women was significantly and negatively correlated with somatic symptoms, and the amount of energy intake (both total intake and kcal intake per body weight) was positively correlated with somatic complaints (P<0.01). As a result of the research, it was thought that somatic and psychological complaints would decrease with a healthy and balanced diet in menopausal women.

Keywords: Menopause, Nutrition, Body Mass Index, Menopausal Symptoms Evaluation Scale