Synopsis

Vasomotor menopausal symptoms (VMS), i.e. hot flushes and night sweats, are experienced by up to 70% of women around menopause. Although the exact physiologic mechanism is unknown, a growing body of evidence supports that VMS result from low and fluctuating oestrogen levels. A number of dietary factors (low intake of fibre and high intake of fat) are considered to play a role in oestrogen metabolism. However, the relation of fat, fibre, food products or dietary patterns containing these nutrients to risk of presence, frequency and severity of VMS has not been studied yet. Our objective is to elucidate the associations between diet and risk of VMS.