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

<b>Objective:</b> This cross-sectional study investigated chilliness, which is the most prevalent sexual-vasomotor symptom in middle-aged Japanese women. <b>Methods:</b> 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. <b>Results:</b> 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). <b>Conclusions:</b> Chilliness is associated with anxiety and low intake of n-3 fatty acids.

**研究目的**：本横断面研究针对日本中年女性最常见的性血管舒缩症状——畏寒症展开调查。**研究方法**：本研究纳入475名年龄介于40~65岁的日本女性，她们均在某更年期门诊的健康与营养教育项目中入组，研究者对其首诊病历记录进行回顾分析。畏寒症的评估基于受试者对《更年期症状量表（Menopausal Symptom Scale）》的应答结果。采用多因素logistic回归分析，对年龄、绝经状态、身体成分、心血管参数、静息能量消耗、体能水平、更年期症状、生活方式及每日估计营养素摄入量等多种因素的影响进行评估。**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、体质量指数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）的焦虑亚量表得分是唯一与重度畏寒症独立相关的背景特征（校正后优势比为1.09；95%置信区间为1.04~1.15，每增加1分）。重度畏寒症女性的每日维生素D（vitamin D）与n-3脂肪酸（n-3 fatty acids）摄入量显著更低。校正混杂因素后，每日n-3脂肪酸摄入量与重度畏寒症呈负相关（优势比为0.54；95%置信区间为0.29~0.95，每1000千卡热量摄入对应每克n-3脂肪酸摄入量）。**研究结论**：畏寒症与焦虑状态及低n-3脂肪酸摄入量存在相关性。