Amenorrhea

The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.

• Raw Food Diet

  +–
  A strict raw foods diet has been associated with weight loss and amenorrhea.

  more

  Raw Food Diet

  ×

  Specific diets may be associated with increased risk of amenorrhea. A strict raw foods diet was found in one preliminary study to be strongly associated with weight loss and amenorrhea.²⁷Vegetarians have been studied for their susceptibility to amenorrhea, but the results so far have been inconsistent.²⁸ Vegetarian diets tend to be rich in the antioxidant nutrients known as carotenes. Women with excessive carotene levels in their blood appear to be at higher risk of amenorrhea than women with normal levels,^29,30 and, while research has not shown high carotene levels to directly cause amenorrhea, they may constitute a contributing factor.³¹ In one preliminary study, women with high levels of both carotenes and amenorrhea had predominantly vegetarian diets, and reducing dietary intake of carotenes led to lower carotene levels and improvement in their amenorrhea.²⁹ Women vegetarians often rely heavily on soy foods as sources of protein, and a number of studies have found that increasing dietary intake of soy reduces levels of estrogen and progesterone in premenopausal women,^{33,34,35,36,37,38} although some studies have not found these changes.^39,40 Changes in menstrual cycles were not consistent in these studies, and none found an increase in missed menses with high-soy diets. The only well-controlled comparison study found that the number of cases of amenorrhea among healthy, stable-weight vegetarian women was not different from that of healthy, stable-weight non vegetarian women.²⁸ The authors of this study speculated that, after reviewing all of the evidence, a vegetarian diet is likely not to contribute to amenorrhea.

• Unsaturated Fats

  +–
  In one study, women on diets low in fat who were experiencing amenorrhea returned to regular menstruation when they increased their fat intake and percentage of body fat.

  more

  Unsaturated Fats

  ×

  When compared with women who menstruate regularly, women who menstruate infrequently or not at all often have lower dietary intakes of fat (especially saturated fat), protein, and total calories, as well as a greater proportion of carbohydrate and fiber in their diet.^40,41,42 In preliminary studies of normal-weight women with no obvious eating disorders, women who experienced amenorrhea had diets described as “close to normal” but significantly low in fat. These women had lower percentages of body fat as well.^43,44 In one of these studies, regular menstruation returned in women who increased their fat intake and percentage of body fat to normal over four months.⁴³

• Vegetarian

  +–
  Some vegetarian diets have been associated with weight loss and amenorrhea.

  more

  Vegetarian

  ×

  Specific diets may be associated with increased risk of amenorrhea. A strict raw foods diet was found in one preliminary study to be strongly associated with weight loss and amenorrhea.⁴⁵Vegetarians have been studied for their susceptibility to amenorrhea, but the results so far have been inconsistent.⁴⁶ Vegetarian diets tend to be rich in the antioxidant nutrients known as carotenes. Women with excessive carotene levels in their blood appear to be at higher risk of amenorrhea than women with normal levels,^47,48 and, while research has not shown high carotene levels to directly cause amenorrhea, they may constitute a contributing factor.⁴⁹ In one preliminary study, women with high levels of both carotenes and amenorrhea had predominantly vegetarian diets, and reducing dietary intake of carotenes led to lower carotene levels and improvement in their amenorrhea.⁴⁷ Women vegetarians often rely heavily on soy foods as sources of protein, and a number of studies have found that increasing dietary intake of soy reduces levels of estrogen and progesterone in premenopausal women,^{51,52,53,54,55,56} although some studies have not found these changes.^57,58 Changes in menstrual cycles were not consistent in these studies, and none found an increase in missed menses with high-soy diets. The only well-controlled comparison study found that the number of cases of amenorrhea among healthy, stable-weight vegetarian women was not different from that of healthy, stable-weight non vegetarian women.⁴⁶ The authors of this study speculated that, after reviewing all of the evidence, a vegetarian diet is likely not to contribute to amenorrhea.

• Eating Healthy

  +–
  Ensuring adequate calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals may help women menstruate regularly.

  more

  Eating Healthy

  ×

  It has long been known that extreme dietary restriction can cause amenorrhea.^58,59 When such restriction is due to eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia,⁵⁸ professional treatment is necessary. Athletic amenorrheic women may have low intakes of calories and other nutrients, and there are reports of some athletes resuming menstruation after adding to their diet a daily nutritional beverage containing additional calories, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and minerals.^61,62 However, these women also decreased their exercise intensity, which likely contributed to normalization of their menstrual function.