Prevalence and severity of the premenstrual syndrome. Effects of foods and beverages that are sweet or high in sugar content

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether certain foods and beverages that are high in sugar content or taste sweet are related to the prevalence and severity of the premenstrual syndrome. Specifically, we sought to evaluate whether consumption of "junk foods", chocolate, caffeine-free cola, fruit juices or alcoholic beverages might exert an effect on the premenstrual syndrome apart from any effects of daily consumption of beverages that are high in caffeine (caffeine-containing coffee, tea and colas). The study was based on 853 responses to a questionnaire probing menstrual and premenstrual health and certain daily dietary practices; it was mailed to female university students in Oregon. An analysis of the data revealed that the consumption of chocolate, but not of other junk foods, was related to the prevalence of the premenstrual syndrome among women with more severe premenstrual symptoms. Likewise, the consumption of alcoholic beverages (all alcoholic beverages and beer only) was related to the prevalence of the premenstrual syndrome among women with more severe symptoms, as were both fruit juice and caffeine-free soda. None of the associations was substantially altered when the daily consumption of beverages high in caffeine content was controlled for. Taken together, these data suggest that the consumption of foods and beverages that are high in sugar content or taste sweet is associated with prevalence of the premenstrual syndrome.     

Do women with premenstrual symptoms self-medicate with caffeine?

Recent investigations have suggested that caffeine consumption is related to the occurrence and severity of premenstrual symptoms. Phillis has proposed that not only the total amount of caffeine consumed but also the pattern of consumption over the menstrual cycle may be important. This study explored whether women who experience moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms differ from other women in their pattern of caffeine intake throughout the menstrual cycle. Analysis of data for 96 complete menstrual cycles from 47 women demonstrated that caffeine intake during the menstrual cycle differed between women who experience moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms and other women. Furthermore, the monthly pattern of caffeine consumption for women with moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms, but not for other women, differed substantially from Phillis's proposed beneficial pattern. Women with premenstrual symptoms may self-mediate with caffeine in response to premenstrual symptoms, thereby exacerbating their symptoms.     

Caffeine-containing beverages, total fluid consumption, and premenstrual syndrome.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether daily consumption of caffeine-containing beverages is related to the prevalence and severity of premenstrual syndrome apart from any effects of daily total fluid consumption. A secondary objective was to determine whether daily total fluid consumption itself is related to premenstrual syndrome. The study is based on 841 responses to a questionnaire probing menstrual and premenstrual health, and daily fluid consumption, which was mailed to female university students in Oregon. Analysis of the data revealed that consumption of caffeine-containing beverages was strongly related to the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome. Among women with more severe symptoms, the relation between consumption of caffeine-containing beverages and premenstrual syndrome was dose-dependent, with prevalence odds ratios equal to 1.3 for consumers of one cup of a caffeine-containing beverage per day and increasing steadily to 7.0 for consumers of eight to 10 cups per day. The effects were apparent among both caffeine-containing tea/coffee consumers and caffeine-containing soda consumers. The observed effects were only slightly reduced when daily total fluid consumption was controlled. Daily total fluid consumption also was related to the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms although the effects were large only for consumers of 13-19 cups of fluid per day (the largest amount studied).     

Complications of BCG vaccinations in rural Haiti.

This study investigated an outbreak of axillary lymphadenitis and abscesses after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination among rural Haitian children treated at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer from January 1986 through March 1991. Seventy-seven cases of vaccine-related complications were identified, all among children immunized before the age of 1 year. The proportions of children with complications were 0.017% for 1986 through 1989, 0.91% for 1990, and 2.2% for January through March 1991.