Description:
<jats:p>The onset of menopause is linked to a number of unpleasant symptoms that reduce the quality of life for many older women, and hormonal therapies are not without risks. Recent studies have found that high intake of plant‐based foods was associated with fewer and less severe menopausal symptoms. Since the vegan diet is highest in plant‐based foods, our objective was to investigate menopausal symptom severity and dietary pattern in a large online community sample of older females. Peri‐ and postmenopausal vegans (Vg: n=123), vegetarians (Veg: n=74), and omnivores (Omn: n=248), ages 45 to 80, completed a survey which included questions about symptom severity from the Menopause‐specific Quality of Life questionnaire and a range of questions about habitual diet and lifestyle relevant to hormone health. Principal components factor analysis of the symptoms supported the use of two components, physical and mental. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to develop a model for predicting these symptom categories, and major correlates were entered into the model. The four predictor model of age, omn/vg diet, BMI, and sleep hrs/n accounted for 15.5% of the variance in physical menopausal symptoms, <jats:italic>F</jats:italic>(6, 322) = 9.86, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < .001; the four predictor model of social support, age, frequency of berries intake, and frequency of sweets intake accounted for 18.9% of the variance in mental menopausal symptoms, <jats:italic>F</jats:italic>(7, 365) = 10.85, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < .001. A one‐way between‐groups analysis of covariance was conducted to compare physical and mental symptoms across the three diet groups. There was a significant difference between diet groups on physical symptoms, adjusted for age and BMI, <jats:italic>F</jats:italic>(2, 390) = 12.83, <jats:italic>p <</jats:italic> 0.001, pη<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>= 0.062; pairwise comparisons showed that Vg reported significantly lower severity of symptoms than Omn. There was also a significant difference between diet groups on mental symptoms adjusted for social support and age, <jats:italic>F</jats:italic>(2, 440) = 3.52, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> =0.030, pη<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>= 0.016; pairwise comparisons showed that Veg reported greater severity of mental symptoms than Vg. A vegan diet may benefit women who seek a natural menopausal therapy and are willing to modify their dietary choices.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Support or Funding Information</jats:bold></jats:p><jats:p>None.</jats:p>