Research

Hormonal

During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, healthy women exhibit significantly reduced plasma levels of amino acids and lipids, indicating an anabolic state driven by progesterone that increases metabolic vulnerability to conditions like PMS and PMDD.

If you experience PMS or PMDD symptoms, your body is likely in a metabolically demanding 'anabolic' state during the luteal phase (post-ovulation) where amino acids and lipids are being utilized for tissue preparation. This creates a window of vulnerability. While this paper does not prescribe a specific diet, it suggests that ensuring sufficient protein and nutrient intake during this phase may help support the body's increased metabolic demands and potentially mitigate symptoms.

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In total, 39 amino acids and derivatives and 18 lipid species decreased (FDR < 0.20) in the luteal phase, possibly indicative of an anabolic state during the progesterone peak and recovery during menstruation and the follicular phase. The reduced metabolite levels observed may represent a time of vulnerability to hormone related health issues such as PMS and PMDD, in the setting of a healthy, rhythmic state.
Colleen Fogarty Draper et al. · Scientific Reports · 2018

Why this rating

The study uses deep molecular phenotyping (LC-MS/GC-MS) on 34 healthy women with rigorous statistical correction (FDR < 0.20), though it is observational and not an intervention trial.

Source

Menstrual cycle rhythmicity: metabolic patterns in healthy women

Colleen Fogarty Draper et al. · Scientific Reports · 2018

DOI 10.1038/s41598-018-32647-0

cohort · n=34Cited 216×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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