one Nutrition in Menopause: What are the Benefits? An Integrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Menopause is a transitional phase from the reproductive period to the non-fertile period in a woman's life, divided into three stages: premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause, which can last from 12 months to 3 years. Nutrition and diet play an important role during this period to prevent or minimize issues such as osteoporosis, constipation, dehydration, hypertension, anxiety, decreased libido, depression, sleep disturbances, joint pain, and weight gain. Objective: To describe the potential benefits related to nutrition during the menopausal transition. Methodology: A literature review was conducted using the databases Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), National Library of Medicine (PubMed), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), using the Health Science Descriptors (DeCS) "Diet" and "Climacteric" combined with the boolean operator AND. The search included original studies published in the last five years, both freely accessible and restricted access, without language restrictions. Reviews, duplicates, and articles unrelated to the topic were excluded. A total of 122 articles were found using the specified descriptors, and 19 were selected for this review. Results: Significant weight loss was observed among women in the menopausal transition, as well as hot flashes resulting from menopausal symptoms. Food cravings in the randomized groups were found to be low, as well as blood pressure. Additionally, a decline in body mass index (BMI) and a reduction in depression symptoms were noted.  Conclusions: Nutritional intervention during the menopausal transition has resulted in significant benefits, including weight loss, reduction in menopausal symptoms, improved cardiovascular health, decreased BMI, and relief from depression symptoms. These findings emphasize the importance of nutrition as an effective approach to enhancing the quality of life for women during this transitional phase.