Severity of hot flushes is inversely associated with dietary intake of vitamin B₆ and oily fish

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the links between the severity of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and the dietary consumption of a variety of nutrients.

Method: A cross-sectional analysis of the first-visit records of 262 women aged 40–65 years was conducted. The severity of their hot flushes (HF) and night sweats (NS) and their dietary consumption of nutrients were evaluated using the Menopausal Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire and the brief-type self-administered Diet History Questionnaire, respectively. The relationships between severity of HF/NS and dietary intake were analyzed separately for 43 major nutrients. We then evaluated different food items as sources of the nutrients.

Results: After adjustment for age, body mass index, menopausal status, and background factors significantly related to VMS, only vitamin B₆ (VB₆) was significantly related to severity of HF (adjusted odds ratio per 10 μg/MJ in VB₆ intake, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–0.97). Moreover, a significant inverse relationship was found between the consumption of oily fish as a source of VB₆ and the severity of HF.

Conclusions: VB₆ and oily fish intake is inversely associated with the severity of HF in middle-aged women. Therefore, increased intake of VB₆ could help attenuate HF.

摘要

目的：本研究探讨血管舒缩性症状（VMS）的严重程度与膳食中多种营养素的摄入之间的关系。

方法：纳入了262例40-65岁首次就诊的女性进行横断面分析研究。采用绝经期健康相关生活质量问卷和简化自填饮食问卷, 分别对她们的潮热（HF）、盗汗（NS）的严重程度及膳食营养素的摄入量进行评估。分别分析43种主要营养素HF/NS严重程度与膳食摄入量的关系。然后我们评估了作为营养来源的不同食物。

结果：调整年龄、体重指数、绝经状态、VMS相关背景因素后, 仅有维生素B6（VB6）与HF的严重程度显著相关（每10lg/MJ的VB6摄入量的调整优势比为0.92；95%的置信区间, 0.86-0.97）。此外, 食用鱼油作为VB6的来源与HF的严重程度呈显著的负相关。

结论：VB6和鱼油摄取量与中年妇女的HF严重程度负相关。因此增加VB6的摄入量可以帮助降低HF。

Keywords:

• Menopausal symptoms
• vasomotor symptoms
• night sweats
• pyridoxal
• fish consumption

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Kikkoman Corporation.