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PATTERNS OF DAILY ACTIVITY, SLEEP, DIET, AND HORMONAL FLUCTUATIONS AMONG PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN: A TWO-MONTH ANALYSIS

Abstract

Despite growing recognition of potential interplays among female reproductive hormones, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), sleep, and diet; a dearth of evidence exists examining how these behaviors interact. Current evidence is primarily cross-sectional, and often includes only naturally menstruating (NM) women, and often excludes women using hormonal contraceptives (HC). PURPOSE: To identify potential interactions between estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and leptin on PA, SB, sleep, and diet among NM and HC women. METHODS: Premenopausal women (N=16, HC=9, NM=7) completed weekly testing for 8 weeks including a serum blood draw and completion of the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ), the Automated Self-Administered Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA-24), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data was analyzed using general linear mixed models with HC/NM and cycle phase as fixed effects and participant as a random effect. RESULTS: Significant positive interactions were identified between FSH and carbohydrate and added sugar intake among all participants (b=0.93, p=0.030; b=0.15, p=0.006; respectively). A significant negative interaction was observed between LH and added sugar intake (b=-1.91, p=0.006). E2 and protein intake were positively associated (b=0.10, p=0.013). A significant interaction between walking and cycle phase was identified (b=1.26, p=0.002), and walking was significantly higher in the mid-follicular phase compared to menstruation (p=0.007). A significant interaction between sleep and cycle phase was observed in NM participants (b=5.21, p=0.004), with sleep differing between menstruation and luteal phase (p<0.001). Additionally, a positive interaction between leptin and sleep was observed (b=0.124, p<0.001). No other significant interactions between lifestyle behaviors and hormones were identified. CONCLUSION: In a relatively healthy female population, carbohydrate, added sugar, and protein intake appear to be related to infradian hormonal fluctuations. PA and sleep both appear to have cycle phase interactions among NM participants but not HC participants. Further research is needed to explore these interactions in a larger and more diverse population.

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