Elibol Emine, Eski Sevdenur, Gez Edanur, Çamdeviren Gizem
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
Departments of Nutrition and Dietetic, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
BMC Womens Health. 2025 May 28;25(1):262. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03822-z.
Menopause is a natural process that often leads to physical and emotional symptoms affecting women's quality of life. Nutrition is increasingly recognized as important in managing these symptoms, with certain dietary patterns-particularly those rich in fiber and whole grains-showing potential benefits. In many regions, including parts of Asia and countries with carbohydrate-heavy diets, carbohydrate quality may significantly influence menopausal health outcomes and related chronic conditions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between carbohydrate quality index, and menopausal symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women.
A total of 604 postmenopausal women participated. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) (higher scores indicate poorer quality of life), and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) (higher scores indicate more severe symptoms). A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary intake. Carbohydrate quality was assessed using the Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI), which considers glycemic index, fiber intake, solid carbohydrate-to-total carbohydrate ratio, and whole grain consumption. Participants were divided into five quartiles based on their CQI scores. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24, with Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, ANOVA, and regression analysis controlling for socioeconomic status, body mass index, education, and menopausal status.
Among the participating women, 273 were aged 30-55 years, 241 were aged 56-64 years, and 90 were aged 65 years and older. The youngest group (30-55) had the highest MENQOL (19.81 ± 9.70) and MRS (44.77 ± 30.91) scores, indicating more severe symptoms. Women postmenopausal for over 3 years reported significantly lower MENQOL scores (15.74 ± 0.42) compared to those postmenopausal for less than 3 years (17.98 ± 10.84) (Z=-1.95, p < 0.05). Across CQI quartiles, women in Q5 had significantly lowest MENQOL (14.35 ± 8.77) scores (Kruskal-Wallis χ²=2.24, p < 0.05). In regression analysis, being married (β = 0.13, p < 0.05) and receiving menopausal treatment (β = 0.11, p < 0.05) were positively associated with higher CQI scores.
Higher carbohydrate quality, is linked to fewer menopausal symptoms. Regression analysis showed that marital status and menopausal treatment were significantly associated with Carbohydrate Quality Index scores. Further research with larger samples and longitudinal studies is needed to explore the causal relationship between carbohydrate quality and menopausal outcomes.
绝经是一个自然过程，常常会引发影响女性生活质量的身体和情绪症状。营养在管理这些症状方面的重要性日益得到认可，某些饮食模式——尤其是富含纤维和全谷物的饮食模式——显示出潜在益处。在包括亚洲部分地区以及碳水化合物含量高的饮食国家在内的许多地区，碳水化合物质量可能会显著影响绝经后健康结果及相关慢性疾病。本研究旨在探讨碳水化合物质量指数与绝经后女性的绝经症状及生活质量之间的关系。
共有604名绝经后女性参与。参与者完成了一份人口统计学调查问卷、绝经特异性生活质量问卷（MENQOL）（得分越高表明生活质量越差）以及绝经评定量表（MRS）（得分越高表明症状越严重）。使用食物频率问卷收集饮食摄入量。采用碳水化合物质量指数（CQI）评估碳水化合物质量，该指数考虑了血糖指数、纤维摄入量、固体碳水化合物与总碳水化合物的比例以及全谷物摄入量。根据参与者的CQI得分将其分为五个四分位数。使用SPSS 24进行统计分析，采用曼-惠特尼U检验、克鲁斯卡尔-沃利斯H检验、方差分析以及控制社会经济地位、体重指数、教育程度和绝经状态的回归分析。
在参与研究的女性中，273人年龄在30 - 55岁之间，241人年龄在56 - 64岁之间，90人年龄在65岁及以上。最年轻的组（30 - 55岁）的MENQOL得分（19.81 ± 9.70）和MRS得分（44.77 ± 30.91）最高，表明症状更严重。绝经超过3年的女性报告的MENQOL得分（15.74 ± 0.42）显著低于绝经少于3年的女性（17.98 ± 10.84）（Z = -1.95，p < 0.05）。在各CQI四分位数中，处于Q5的女性的MENQOL得分（14.35 ± 8.77）显著最低（克鲁斯卡尔-沃利斯χ² = 2.24，p < 0.05）。在回归分析中，已婚（β = 0.13，p < 0.05）和接受绝经治疗（β = 0.11，p < 0.05）与较高的CQI得分呈正相关。
较高的碳水化合物质量与较少的绝经症状相关。回归分析表明婚姻状况和绝经治疗与碳水化合物质量指数得分显著相关。需要进行更大样本的进一步研究和纵向研究，以探索碳水化合物质量与绝经结果之间的因果关系。
