Elements of eating pattern and intensity of dysmenorrhea-a cross-sectional study in sample of Polish women

Background: The importance of dietary pattern for pain relief in women with dysmenorrhea is increasingly discussed in the literature. It is believed that a proper eating pattern may have pain-relieving properties. The development of a perfect diet composition for patients with dysmenorrhea constitutes a major challenge. Aim of the study: The present study aimed to characterize the eating pattern of Polish women with severe and moderate dysmenorrhea. Material and methods: The observational cohort study was conducted among 718 women, divided into two subgroups: Group 1 (G1) comprised women suffering from severe pain (N = 355), while Group 2 (G2) involved women with moderate pain (N = 363). Two measurement tools were used in the study: The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and an original questionnaire for assessing the frequency of consumption of selected food groups. Results: The average consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy products and coffee was significantly lower in G1 than in G2. On the other hand, average consumption of meat, fish and fast food products was significantly higher in G1 than G2. The greatest effect size was observed for the consumption of coffee, as well as fruits and vegetables. Women from G2 had a diet like the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, whereas those from G1 followed a Western model diet containing fast food products and foods rich in sugar, salt, and saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: A proper diet should be promoted among women suffering from dysmenorrhea. The use of a proper diet may be particularly important for the treatments offered to this group of patients.