The menopausal symptoms and food consumption in post-menopausal women before and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study published within the Nutrients Journal compared menopausal symptoms and food consumption in post-menopausal women before and throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Study: Changes in Food Consumption in Postmenopausal Women throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study. Image Credit: GroundPicture/Shutterstock.com

Background

The pandemic has significantly impacted global health systems, the economy, and the food supply. Post-menopausal women’s dietary habits and symptoms throughout the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak are crucial for mitigating long-term health problems.

Studies show that post-menopausal women are likely to have higher sugar and refined carbohydrate intake, resulting in increased psychological, vasomotor, urogenital, and somatic symptoms and sleep disturbances.

Conversely, patterns involving vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed foods lower the intensity of menopausal symptoms. Access to healthy foods and regular consumption of healthy foods can reduce susceptibility to COVID-19 and its long-term consequences. Understanding these habits and their relationship with post-menopausal symptoms is important for healthcare planning.

In regards to the study

In the current longitudinal study, researchers assessed changes in dietary patterns of post-menopausal women related to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

The survey-based study was conducted on post-menopausal (12 months after the last menstrual period) Brazilian women aged 40 years and older from January 2018 to 2021.

The team used the Women’s Health Questionnaire (W.H.Q.), the Kupperman-Blatt Menopausal Index (K-BMI), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (I.P.A.Q.), the World Health Organization (WHO) scale, and one-day dietary recalls for data collection.

The questionnaires included anthropometric (body mass, waist circumference, and height), sociodemographic (ethnicity, age, marital status, education, and income), clinical (participant’s age at menopause), and lifestyle (alcohol intake and smoking status) domains.

The team excluded (i) individuals with surgical menopause; (ii) current cancer diagnosis and usage of chemotherapy medications; (iii) untreated energetic thyroid and parathyroid hormonal disorders; (iv) chronic hepatic failure; and (v) chronic kidney failure.

Food items listed by the individuals of their dietary recalls were converted from household measures to grams and milliliters using the Reference Table for Measures of Foods Consumed in Brazil. The food amounts were then converted into kilocalories using the Dietary Composition Table of Foods Consumed in Brazil, and for participants reporting adding sugar to their beverages, 10% of the beverage volume was considered added sugar.

The NOVA classification was used to categorise foods based on the extent of processing into processed and ultra-processed foods and culinary preparations. The follow-up evaluation was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021.

Results

Initially, 288 women were identified, amongst whom 274 were willing to take part in the study, and 78 (29%) accomplished all of the assessments during COVID-19. Among the many study participants, 97% had not received a COVID-19 diagnosis, and 80% were isolated but employed through January 2021. The mean age of the participants was 56 years, and the mean age at menopause was 48 years.

The mean menopause duration was eight years. Among the many participants, 146 (53%) were Whites, 145 (53%) were married or lived with their partners, 175 (64%) had their monthly income lower than or equal to 2 minimum wages, and 123 (47%) received education for reminiscent of or greater than 12 years.

Further, 105 (39%) were chubby, 147 (54%) were physically inactive, 227 (83%) were non-smokers, and 202 (74%) didn’t devour alcohol.

Symptom intensity was lower during COVID-19 in comparison with pre-pandemic times. Significant improvements were noted in vasomotor, paresthesia, insomnia, nervousness, melancholy, vertigo, weakness, headaches, palpitations, and tingling symptoms throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in comparison with pre-pandemic times.

Protein, lipid (saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and trans-fatty acids), processed food, and calorie intake were lower during COVID-19 than before. As well as, plain yogurt and milk intake were lower, whereas sweet food and sugary beverage consumption were higher throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Conclusions

The study findings showed that post-menopausal women consumed more sugary drinks and sweet meals. In contrast, plain yogurt, milk, and processed foods were consumed less during COVID-19 than during pre-pandemic periods.

Moreover, during COVID-19, macronutrients and calorie intakes were lowered. The findings back up research from other nations, including France, Italy, Brazil, and america.

The findings will help the healthcare system reply to post-menopausal women’s needs during a worldwide public health catastrophe.

To construct a sustainable and equitable long-term care system, the healthcare system must realign itself to deal with the needs of post-menopausal women.