Basal metabolic rate, stress and different phases of menstrual cycle

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to find out Basal Metabolic Rate BMR in different phases of menstrual cycle the effect of stress on BMR and stress level in different phases of menstrual cycle and during BMR recording in women staying at Bangalore. The BMR was obtained serially in 40 healthy women aged 18 ndash 22 years by indirect calorimetry using Benedict-Roth apparatus in menstrual follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The stress levels were assessed using questionnaires ndash state anxiety STAI and Bells Adjustment Inventory BAI student form in each phase. The results showed significant increase plt0.0001 in BMR during luteal phase as compared to other two phases whereas it was almost identical in menstrual and follicular phases. Stress level remained almost same throughout the cycle except for significant increase in state anxiety during menstrual phase as compared to follicular lt0.016 and luteal phases lt0.007. BMR increased with increase in stress level in each phase of menstrual cycle. Thus it can be concluded that BMR increases during luteal phase as a postovulatory phenomenon possibly mediated through hormones mainly progesterone and not due to stress factor.nbsp