Serum Proteomics of Multiple Menstrual Symptoms in Female Athletes: A Pilot Study

Menstrual symptoms, including primary dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome, are significant problems affecting women's health condition. However, their biological functions are still unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate proteins related to menstrual symptoms with high-performance two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). Serum samples were collected once a week over 5 weeks. At the same time, 46 types of menstrual symptoms were evaluated using a menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ) on a scale of 0-4 (0: not at all, closer to 4: very strongly). 2DE images were obtained from the serum of participants with continuous menstrual phases, including the luteal, menstrual, and follicular phases. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify proteins that change in response to the interaction between menstrual phase and menstrual symptoms. As a result, six symptoms were associated with specific proteins (muscle stiffness with serine protease-1; general aches and pains with junction plakoglobin; tension with transferrin, ceruloplasmin, and desmoglein; depression with kininogen-1; distractibility with dermcidin; take naps; stay in bed with transferrin and hemopexin). These results indicate that various menstrual symptoms may have different underlying mechanisms. Further research into these proteins may lead to novel understanding of menstrual symptoms and support more effective health management for women.