Report Title
The Association Between Diet and Oral Contraceptives on Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Collective Title
Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Research Reports 2024
Abstract
Research has shown that women on a natural menstrual cycle and women on combination oral contraceptive pill (COCP) experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like constipation and diarrhea. However, there is a lack of research that compares these symptoms in women on COCP with those on their natural menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study was to compare the GI symptoms of women with a natural menstrual cycle and those on COCPs while also characterizing any associations between diet and GI symptoms within the two groups. Participants were recruited from Loma Linda University Health, resulting in 5 participants on their natural menstrual cycle and 4 on the COCP. Participants completed the five-week study by completing a series of questionnaires including a daily GI symptom questionnaire and three 24-hour recalls. There was no statistical significance when comparing the Healthy Eating Index of women on a natural menstrual cycle versus women on a COCP. Reported abdominal pain was found to be statistically significantly higher in women on COCPs than women on their natural menstrual cycle. This pilot study has found a difference in abdominal pain between healthy women not taking COCPs and those taking COCPs. The lack of diet effect on GI symptoms may be due to the small sample size. Further research on larger groups is needed to further explore the association of COCPs on other GI symptoms.
LLU Discipline
Nutrition and Dietetics
Department
Nutrition and Dietetics
School
School of Allied Health Professions
First Advisor
Lida Gharibvand
Second Advisor
Gurinder Bains
Third Advisor
Lesley Ann Foster-Nicholas
Fourth Advisor
JeJe Noval
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Level
M.S.
Year Degree Awarded
2024
Date (Title Page)
2024
Language
English
Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings
Menstrual cycle—Physiological aspects; Oral contraceptives—Side effects; Gastrointestinal system—Diseases—Etiology; Diet—Health aspects
Type
Research Report
Digital Format
Digital Publisher
Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright
Author
Usage Rights
This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.
Recommended Citation
Chan, Emily; Farfan-Ayala, Yesenia; and Zazueta, Jeanette, "The Association Between Diet and Oral Contraceptives on Gastrointestinal Symptoms" (2024). Loma Linda University Research Reports. 45.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/rr/45
Collection
Loma Linda University Research Reports
Collection Website
scholarsrepository.llu.edu/rr/
Repository
Loma Linda University. University Libraries.