THE BASAL METABOLIC RATE IN RELATION TO THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Abstract

As the previous work on the basal metabolic rate in relation to the menstrual cycle has been reviewed in practically every paper on the subject, we need mention only that of Griffith and his collaborators (1929).¹ Their results indicate a positive correlation. Although their data have not been treated statistically, the paper seems to be the best published to date. In the work described here, the Benedict-Roth apparatus was used. All the necessary precautions were observed in making the determinations. The determinations were made almost daily on ten different subjects throughout one or more menstrual cycles. The subjects were normal women without the complicating factor— menstrual pain (Boothby and Sandiford, 1924).² The surface areas were determined by the height-weight formula of DuBois. In order to ascertain whether there is a relationship between the basal metabolic rate and the menstrual cycle, the cycle was divided into four periods: menstrual, postmenstrual, intermenstrual