Impact of Intermittent Fasting on Premenstrual Syndrome among Medical Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
B. Gayathri *
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alvas College of Naturopathy and Yogic Science, Mijar, Manglore, Karnataka, India.
A. N. Vineetha
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alvas College of Naturopathy and Yogic Science, Mijar, Manglore, Karnataka, India.
S. Swathi
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alvas College of Naturopathy and Yogic Science, Mijar, Manglore, Karnataka, India.
Vanitha S. Shetty
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alvas College of Naturopathy and Yogic Science, Mijar, Manglore, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can impair physical, emotional, academic, and social functioning. Evidence on time-restricted eating (TRE) for PMS remains limited.
Methods: This parallel-group randomised controlled trial enrolled 60 female medical students aged 18-28 years with mild-to-moderate PMS. Participants were allocated by lottery to a modified TRE intervention group (n = 30) or a control group that continued its usual routine without a study dietary intervention (n = 30). The registered intervention was scheduled from menstrual-cycle day 9 through day 28 for two months. The implemented meal schedule documented food intake from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM; therefore, the regimen is reported here as a modified TRE regimen rather than a strict 20:4 protocol. The primary outcome was the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), and the secondary outcome was the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after month 1 and after month 2.
Results: All 60 participants completed follow-up. Baseline PSST and MEDI-Q scores differed between groups. In the intervention group, mean PSST scores decreased from 33.2 ± 6.70 at baseline to 12.0 ± 4.48 at month 1 and 14.2 ± 3.94 at month 2; the month-2 score remained markedly below baseline but was higher than at month 1. Mean MEDI-Q scores decreased from 27.9 ± 4.04 to 15.4 ± 3.88 and 10.7 ± 2.89, respectively. Control-group pairwise comparisons were not statistically significant. Reported repeated-measures analyses showed significant time, group, and time×group effects for both outcomes (all p < .001).
Conclusion: A two-month modified TRE and structured dietary regimen was associated with substantial reductions in PMS symptom severity and menstrual distress in this single-centre sample. Because the groups differed at baseline and the intervention combined meal timing with a specified food pattern, the findings should be interpreted as preliminary and should be confirmed in larger trials using baseline-adjusted analyses, quantified adherence, and longer follow-up.
Keywords: Premenstrual syndrome, time-restricted eating, intermittent fasting, medical students, PSST, MEDI-Q, randomised controlled trial