The research, described as "pioneering" by midwife and titular professor of Nursing at UHU, Elia Rodríguez, focuses on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of strawberries, particularly their polyphenols, to alleviate primary dysmenorrhea.
The pilot clinical trial involved 64 university students. A group of 33 young women incorporated strawberries into their diet for one month, while the remaining 31 formed the control group. Preliminary results indicate that the average maximum pain score per cycle decreased from 7.75 to 6.27 on a scale of zero to ten, exceeding the research team's expectations.
The reduction of almost two points surpassed the team's initial expectations, which had set a target of a one-point decrease.
Primary dysmenorrhea affects over 70% of women of reproductive age, negatively impacting their quality of life and academic performance. Rodríguez lamented that this pain continues to be "socially normalized" and that many women feel "stigmatized."
One of the study's main innovations is the use of fresh strawberries, unlike previous research on other conditions that used lyophilized products. While scientific literature already recognizes the benefits of other polyphenol-rich foods, this is the first time strawberry properties have been specifically analyzed for this particular ailment.
Despite the limitations of the sample size and initial follow-up, the results have been "very promising." The scientific team and Freshuelva are planning to expand the study with a larger sample, long-term follow-up, and explore its application in other life stages such as menopause. Researcher Cintia Márquez and professor Ana Breu also collaborated on the project.
