Fiber Consumption and Menstrual Regularity in Young Women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dietary fiber on menstrual regularity independent of fat consumption. Methods: Two hundred and ten young women, aged 17–22 years, provided dietary, health and menstrual data using self-administered questionnaires. Results: The data showed a highly significant association between crude and dietary fiber intake and menstrual irregularity, independent of percent of calories from fat. The inverse correlation between fiber and fat intake in this population was modest (explaining less than 10% of the variance), allowing us to use covariance analysis to evaluate the independent effects of fat and fiber on menstrual regularity. When controlling for dietary fiber, the weak univariate association between saturated fats and menstrual irregularity became insignificant. Conclusions: Data from this study provide evidence that dietary and crude fiber are associated with menstrual irregularity independent of fat intake.