Dietary Status and the Effect of Flaxseed Supplementation on the Severity of Perimenopausal Symptoms

Background Perimenopause is a transitional phase leading to menopause, increasing the risk of various associated diseases. Given the potential adverse effects of long-term conventional treatments, flaxseed serves as a promising nonpharmacological alternative for perimenopausal prevention. Objective Given the limited research on perimenopause and the potential of flaxseed as a prophylactic therapy for associated symptoms and their severity in later stages or before menopause, this study aims to examine the effects of flaxseed on perimenopausal symptom severity and its relationship with dietary nutrient intake. Methods Data from 145 participants in this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial were analyzed and compared before and after the intervention in two groups: Group A (flaxseed) and Group B (placebo). The study aimed to evaluate the impact of flaxseed on the severity of perimenopause-related symptoms and dietary nutrient intake while also assessing the relationship between symptom severity and dietary nutrients. Results The study's findings reveal that flaxseed supplementation significantly reduced the severity of perimenopausal symptoms compared to the placebo (p < 0.001), with effect sizes ranging from -0.86 to -1.55. Among the nutrients analyzed - energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, and calcium - only energy, fiber, calcium, and iron showed significant changes from baseline to follow-up in the flaxseed group compared to the placebo. Additionally, significant correlations were observed between symptom severity and dietary nutrient intake. Specifically, sleep disturbances were significantly associated with energy intake (before intervention: r = 0.251, p = 0.024; after intervention: r = 0.265, p = 0.018), while vaginal dryness was significantly correlated with fiber intake (before intervention: r = 0.402, p = 0.001; after intervention: r = 0.267, p = 0.017). Conclusions Flaxseed may help alleviate certain perimenopausal symptoms, making it a useful supplemental nonpharmacological preventive therapy.