Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated endocrinopathy affecting women in reproductive age. The crucial role of obesity and insulin resistance in progression of metabolic and cardiovascular features of PCOS has been confirmed. Although it has been suggested that there is a possible association between dietary pattern and risk of PCOS, few studies investigating the diet composition of PCOS women. The aim of this study was to compare the dietary intakes between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and eumenorrheic non hirsute women. This was a case control study of 142 women with PCOS and 140 eumenorrheic non hirsute healthy age and BMI matched controls. We compared the dietary intakes of our study group using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), using T-test or Mann-Whitney to compare the means of two groups. One way Anova was used to compare the tertiles of GI and GL in each group and a two way ANOVA was used to compare between tertiles of GI-GL and groups. The results demonstrated that energy and macronutrient intakes in PCOS women compared to controls were similar. PCOS group consumed more food items with high glycemic index (p=0.042) and less legumes (P=0.026) and vegetables (p=0.037) than controls. Both groups in the highest tertile of glycemic load (GL) had higher body mass index and waist circumference. Considering the results of this study, it was concluded that PCOS women had a dietary pattern that was characterized by a higher consumption of high GI food items and lower legumes and vegetables.

Background Obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may face additional barriers in achieving weight loss. We aimed to compare the effects of the hypocaloric low glycemic index (LGI) diet on anthropometric variables and insulin resistance in women with and without PCOS and investigate the effect of this diet on the clinical and hormonal features of PCOS women. Methods This interventional study was carried out at the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Of 108 women invited for the purpose of the present study, 62 participants (PCOS = 28, non-PCOS = 34) followed a 24-week energy restricted LGI diet. Anthropometric, biochemical, hormonal and clinical measurements were documented at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks with intervention. Results The percentages of weight loss achieved by both the PCOS and non-PCOS groups did not differ significantly (PCOS: -8.04% vs. non-PCOS: -8.09%). No significant difference in decrease of homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was observed between the two groups (PCOS = − 0.83 ± 0.33, non PCOS = − 0.79 ± 0.28, P = 0.83). In PCOS women, significant reduction in total testosterone (− 0.91 ± 0.33 nmol/L, P = 0.006), FAI (− 4.47 ± 1.1, P < 0.001) and increase in SHBG (38.98 ± 11.02 nmol/L, P < 0.001) were observed. Menstrual irregularity was improved in 80% of women with PCOS and a significant decrease (32.1%) in occurrence of acne was reported. Conclusions This diet has equally beneficial effects on anthropometric and metabolic characteristics of overweight women with and without PCOS. Trial registration This study is registered in the Iranian Randomized Clinical Trials Registry (IRCT, code: IRCT2016092129909N1 ).

BackgroundIt is assumed that obesity adversely affects the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), not only due to the excess weight, but also due to several other obesity induced metabolic and reproductive consequences. We aimed to compare the effects of excess body weight on the HRQOL between women with PCOS and controls.MethodsThis is a case control study of 142 women with PCOS and 140 age- and BMI- matched controls. The Iranian version of short form health survey 36 (SF 36) was used to assess HRQOL. Domains of SF 36 were compared in women with PCOS and controls using multivariate analysis of covariance. The Pearson correlation was used to assess the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and domain scores of SF 36, and the differences between two correlations in cases and controls, using Fisher’s Z test.ResultsWomen with PCOS had significantly lower scores for both, the physical and the mental component summary scales, compared to controls. In the cases, a significant negative correlations were observed for BMI with physical function (r = - 0.301, P<0.001), bodily pain (r = - 0.23, P = 0.006), and physical summary score (r = -0.3, P = 0.007). In controls, significant correlation was seen for BMI with bodily pain (r = - 0.3, P<0.001) and physical summary score (r = - 0.27, P = 0.001). The differences between correlations of physical function with BMI in PCOS and controls were statistically significant (Z = -2.41, P = 0.008).ConclusionAlthough the physical aspects of HRQOL are adversely affected by overweight in both PCOS and controls, these impaired effects are greater in women with PCOS.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Although physical activity and weight loss has been proposed as the first line management in patients with PCOS, studies on physical activity in patients with PCOS are limited. The aims of this study were to compare levels of physical activity and its related factors between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and eumenorrheic non hirsute women. We compared the physical activity of our study group using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), using T-test or Mann-Whitney to compare the means of two groups. Step wise multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between physical activity and body mass index and demographic factors. The results showed that physical activity levels in PCOS women compared to controls were similar; however the time spent sitting in PCOS women was significantly higher than controls; (6.94±2.2 versus 6.09±2.63 hours, P<0.001).Low levels of physical activity were reported by 59.2% of cases and 57.1% of controls. A positive association between physical activity levels and BMI (P=0.001) and age (P=0.03) was observed in PCOS women. In controls, physical activity levels was found to be associated with BMI (P=0.01), education (P=0.03) and pregnancy status (P=0.03). Considering the results of this study, it was concluded that In PCOS women, the impacts of demographic factors on physical activity may be less important than controls.