Comparison of Dietary Intake between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women and Controls

Abstract

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.

Effects of exercise and dietary habits on the occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome over 5 years of follow‐up

“…However, the body mass index was a confounding factor for these results. Further, previous studies found a high dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and a low fiber intake among patients with PCOS …”

“…No difference was found in total energy intake and intake of nutrient elements in the present study. Likewise, most other studies did not find significant differences in protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake between women with PCOS and the control group . Wild et al .…”

“…Likewise, most other studies did not find significant differences in protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake between women with PCOS and the control group. 5,7,[18][19][20][21][22] Wild et al 23 reported an increased fat intake and a reduced fiber intake in patients with PCOS, which was related to weight differences between the groups. For Taiwanese women with PCOS, lower energy and carbohydrate intake and a higher fat intake have been reported.…”

“…Further, previous studies found a high dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and a low fiber intake among patients with PCOS. 22,25 The strengths of the present study included the population-based nature of the sample, which minimized selection bias and made the sample more representative of women with PCOS in the real world.…”

Low intakes of dietary fiber and magnesium are associated with insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome: A cohort study

“…Women with PCOS have been reported to consume greater glycemic loads than women without PCOS (Douglas et al, ; Shishehgar et al, ). However, we found higher glycemic loads in PCOS only in those with IR (Table ) similar to findings reported by Graff et al ().…”