Chilliness in Japanese middle-aged women is associated with anxiety and low n-3 fatty acid intake

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated chilliness, which is the most prevalent sexual-vasomotor symptom in middle-aged Japanese women.
Methods: First-visit records of 475 Japanese women (age 40–65 years) enrolled in the health and nutrition education program at a menopause clinic were analyzed. Chilliness was estimated based on responses to the Menopausal Symptom Scale. Effects of age, menopausal status, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, resting energy expenditure, physical fitness, menopausal symptoms, lifestyle, and estimated daily intake of nutrients were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Severe chilliness was found in 28.4% of women. It was not related to age, menopausal status, body mass index, or body fat percentage. The anxiety subscale score of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was the sole background characteristic independently associated with severe chilliness (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.15 per point). Daily intakes of vitamin D and n-3 fatty acids were significantly lower in women with severe chilliness. Daily intake of n-3 fatty acids was negatively associated with severe chilliness after adjustment (odds ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.29–0.95 per g/1000 kcal intake).
Conclusions: Chilliness is associated with anxiety and low intake of n-3 fatty acids.

研究目的：本横断面研究旨在探究畏寒症——日本中年女性最为高发的性血管舒缩症状的相关特征。
研究方法：本研究对某绝经门诊健康与营养教育项目中入组的475名年龄40~65岁的日本女性的首诊记录进行分析。以绝经症状量表（Menopausal Symptom Scale）的应答结果评估受试者的畏寒症情况。采用多因素logistic回归分析，评估年龄、绝经状态、身体成分、心血管参数、静息能量消耗、体能水平、绝经症状、生活方式及估算的每日营养素摄入量等因素的影响。
研究结果：28.4%的女性存在重度畏寒症。该症状与年龄、绝经状态、体重指数（body mass index, BMI）或体脂百分比均无显著关联。医院焦虑抑郁量表（Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale）的焦虑子量表得分是唯一与重度畏寒症独立相关的背景特征（校正后比值比为1.09；每增加1分，95%置信区间为1.04~1.15）。重度畏寒症女性的每日维生素D与n-3脂肪酸摄入量均显著偏低。经校正后，每日n-3脂肪酸摄入量与重度畏寒症呈负相关（比值比为0.54；每1000千卡摄入量中每增加1克，95%置信区间为0.29~0.95）。
研究结论：畏寒症与焦虑情绪及较低的n-3脂肪酸摄入量存在关联。