It’s no secret that individuals who menstruate often find themselves craving sweets or carb- and fat-loaded delights just before the onset of their period. Now, a recent research has found that these food-related desires could be linked to insulin sensitivity.
The study, published in Nature Metabolism, found that insulin sensitivity — the response of your cells to the hormone insulin — varied throughout the menstrual cycle. These fluctuations were at their highest in the times leading as much as ovulation and dip to their lowest levels in the times following the onset of menstruation.
Insulin, sometimes called the body’s blood sugar regulator, is a chemical messenger that makes cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream, giving them energy to operate. Researchers revealed that low insulin activities in women, without prediabetes or diabetes, led to a rise of their blood sugar levels, which caused a rise in food cravings.
One other study in August had revealed that blood glucose levels peaked right before the onset of periods and dipped just before ovulation.
When insulin sensitivity is high, glucose is seamlessly transferred into the cells. In contrast, low insulin sensitivity, often referred to as insulin resistance, occurs when cells don’t respond optimally to the hormone, resulting in a buildup of glucose within the bloodstream. Cravings for food increase when the blood glucose levels are highest.
The rise in blood glucose levels because of insulin resistance deprives cells of the energy they should function. This will result in prediabetes, a condition which will increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
In the course of the study, researchers assessed insulin sensitivity in women with natural, healthy menstrual cycles. They used a nasal spray to manage insulin and observed how the hypothalamus responded in each the times before ovulation (follicular phase) and the lead-up to the menstrual period (luteal phase).
It was found that in lean women, brain insulin motion boosted peripheral insulin sensitivity throughout the follicular phase, but did not have the identical effect throughout the luteal phase.
The researchers caution that further research is required to verify their findings, because the study was carried out in just 11 women.
Experts said the findings of this small scale study explain a reasonably common phenomenon amongst women where they experience hunger right before their period. It also offered insights into why their metabolism slowed down, and why weight gains were more likely during this era.
“That is an interesting finding — diabetics have reported cyclical changes of their blood sugar management for a few years […] It’s great to see some research into this eventually!” Sally King, a postdoctoral fellow in menstrual physiology dept. Of Women and Kid’s Health, King’s College London, who was not a part of the study told Medical News Today.
“The methodology of this study was too limited to definitively conclude that insulin sensitivity is reduced throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle,” said Dr. Kara McElligot, obstetrician-gynecologist and NAMS-certified menopause practitioner, who was not involved within the study.
She cautioned that while this study provided some compelling information, it was not enough to prove that the conclusions were true.
Şebnem Ünlüişler, a genetic engineer on the London Regenerative Institute, who was not a part of the study, said that variations in insulin sensitivity throughout the menstrual cycle could potentially affect metabolism and body weight.
“Women might find it useful to adapt their eating regimen and exercise routine in response to their menstrual phase,” she added.
“These studies highlight the intricate relationship between hormonal fluctuations and metabolic health in women. Understanding these dynamics may result in more targeted interventions for managing appetite, weight, and overall health throughout the menstrual cycle.”
Published by Medicaldaily.com