Premenstrual cravings for sugary or salty food may be caused by inflammation. A study suggests that women who have high levels of inflammatory markers in their blood a week or two before they start their period are more likely to crave food like chocolate. However, another researcher says inflammation may not be driving these cravings, with unknown factors potentially being involved.
Why some people crave particular foods in the lead up to their period isn鈥檛 entirely understood. Previous research has linked raised levels of the hormone dopamine to premenstrual cravings. , such as low mood and fatigue, are linked to raised levels of certain inflammatory markers, which may be brought on by varying hormonal levels and stress at different points in the menstrual cycle.
To learn more, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and her colleagues assessed 259 women aged 18 to 44 over two menstrual cycles. No transgender men or non-binary people were included in the study.
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The women were asked about any cravings they had for food like chocolate, as well as other sweet and salty foods, during their menstrual cycles. They also provided eight blood samples over the two cycles to test for the presence of inflammatory markers.
Overall, 57 per cent of the women reported having moderate to severe cravings for sugary or salty food at some point in their menstrual cycle. This was most pronounced in the week or two before their period began.
The women who craved chocolate and other sweet foods had higher levels of inflammatory markers called hsCRP, GCSF, GMCSF, IL-4, IL-6, RANTES and MIP1B during their premenstrual stage, compared with at other times in their cycle. Elevated levels of the inflammatory markers CRP, IFNA and MIP were associated with salty cravings.
According to the researchers, they tested for a relatively large number of inflammatory markers, which was a strength of their study. However, the women also self-reported their cravings, which leaves room for recall error.
at the University of Virginia says we can鈥檛 be sure that inflammation causes premenstrual food cravings. 鈥淛ust because inflammation and cravings are correlated doesn鈥檛 mean that inflammation is causing cravings.鈥� Other factors may cause them both, she says.
This could be investigated by carrying out animal research that looks at whether inducing inflammation leads to the animals choosing sweet or salty foods over less-sugary, less-salty alternatives, says Payne.
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