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Fifty-five women were recruited and assigned to a control group or an oral contraceptive (OC) use group. For the control groups menstrual cycle phase was determined using a menstrual calendar and only participants with regular cycles were recruited. Testing was carried out during a single day of the luteal and follicular phases, where participants were asked to consume and rate sweet and savoury snacks. Participants in the OC group were tested on the equivalent days of their pill calendar. In both groups, the luteal phase induced a greater caloric intake of sweet foods without altering hedonic ratings. No significant interactions between either phase or flavour with OC use on food intake or hedonic food ratings were found. At least for snack items, OC do not seem to alter the caloric intake fluctuations that occur during a normal menstrual cycle., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: Food intake and motivation for food varies according to the phase of the menstrual cycle. These changes seem to be more marked in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and may be modified by the use of oral contraceptives (OC). This study examined the effect of menstrual cycle, PMS and OC use on the intake and hedonic rating of sweet and savory snack foods., Material and Methods: Fifty-five women were recruited and assigned to either a PMS group or a control group. In addition, based on OC use, the women were assigned to an OC-user or non-user group. During the luteal and follicular phases, the participants were asked to consume and rate sweet and savory snacks., Results: The luteal phase induced greater caloric intake from sweet foods. PMS sufferers did not consume significantly more calories in either phase. There was a significant interaction between phase, flavor, PMS status and OC use. OC users consumed more calories from sweet foods in the follicular phase., Conclusions: Food intake is increased in the luteal phase. This effect was modulated by both PMS and OC use. OC use seems to eliminate cyclic fluctuations in caloric intake.