High-quality carbs can curb symptoms of menopause

Postmenopausal women may benefit from consuming high-quality carbohydrates, which have been found to help lower somatic and psychological symptoms of menopause in a recent study.

A total of 393 postmenopausal women attending municipality health houses and health centres in the south of Tehran, Iran, participated in the study. All women completed a validated food frequency questionnaire and menopause rating scale (MRS).

Carbohydrate quality index (CQI) was calculated using three indices, namely dietary fibre, glycaemic index, and the ratio of solid carbohydrates to total carbohydrates. Linear and logistic regression facilitated analysis of the relationship between CQI and menopausal symptoms. Models were controlled for age, education, time passed since menopause, body mass index, physical activity, and energy intake.

Results showed an inverse relationship between CQI and the total MRS score (TMRSS; β –0.61; p<0.001), somatic score (SS; β –0.27; p<0.001), and psychological score (PS; β –0.37; p<0.001).

Women in the highest vs lowest quartile of CQI were more likely to have lower TMRSS (odds ratio [OR], 0.36, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.19–0.68), SS (OR, 0.34, 95 percent CI, 0.17–0.68), and PS (OR, 0.32, 95 percent CI, 0.16–0.61).

CQI showed no significant association with urogenital score.

The present data indicate the potential of CQI in the development of an effective dietary modification strategy for alleviating menopausal symptoms.