The relationship of diet antioxidant capacity and diet inflammatory index with menopaus symptoms

Postmenopausal symptoms have become a public health problem due to the increase in life expectancy in the world and the increase in the time spent in menopause. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (DTAC) and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and menopausal symptoms in the early postmenopausal period when menopausal symptoms are most common. Sixty female individuals in the early postmenopausal period between the ages of 46-61 living in Erzurum province were included in the study. Within the scope of the study, a questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, general health information, general nutritional habits, physical activity status and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and Short Form-36 Quality of Life Scale were applied to the individuals and anthropometric measurements of the individuals were taken. Then, DII, daily energy and nutrient intakes were calculated using three-day food consumption records from all individuals; DTAC was calculated using the food consumption frequency questionnaire. The mean age of the individuals was 53.0 ± 4.0 years and the mean time since the last menstrual cycle was 2.5±1.2 years. The average of the scores obtained from the MRS was found to be 17.1±7.5. According to BMI, 61.7% of individuals are obese, and according to waist circumference, 86.7% are in the high-risk group; 70.0% according to waist/hip ratio and 96.7% according to waist/height ratio are in the risky group. The majority of individuals (48.3%) are individuals with mild physical activity. The mean DII of the individuals participating in the study was -2.64±3.05; the mean DTAC was found to be 11.98±3.59. While MRS total and somatic scores increased significantly with dietary carbohydrate and soluble fiber intake; a negative correlation was found between MRS total score and fat intake. While the psychological sub-dimension was positively correlated with carbohydrate intake, fat intake was negatively correlated with polyunsaturated fat intake and selenium intake. (p<0.05) The urogenital sub-dimension did not show a significant correlation with energy and nutrients. (p>0.05) DII and MRS score quartiles were compared, but no significant correlation was found (p>0.05). The correlation between DII and MRS scores was examined, and a positive but insignificant relationship was found between the somatic and psychological scores and DII. Urogenital scores and MRS total score were found to have a negative and statistically insignificant relationship with DII. (p>0.05) Considering the relationship between MRS and DTAC, the mean MRS total score and urogenital score were found in the 4th quartile; the psychological score was found to be lower in the 4th quartile than in the 1st quartile, but the difference was statistically insignificant. In the correlation between DTAC and MRS, it was seen that psychological and urogenital symptoms were in a negative relationship with DTAC, but this difference was not significant. As a result, it is thought that adequate and balanced nutrition in the premenopausal period can have positive effects on the symptoms of the postmenopausal period.