Metabolic and Endocrine Effects of a Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Diet in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Effects of a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich diet were investigated in 17 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. After a 3-month habitual diet period, dietary fats were partly replaced with PUFAs for another 3 months. The PUFA-rich diet increased plasma linoleic acid from 28.36 +/- 1.00% to 33.76 +/- 1.08% (P < 0.002) and alpha-linolenic acid from 0.52 +/- 0.03% to 1.06 +/- 0.10% (P < 0.0001). Fasting glucose increased from 76 +/- 3 to 95 +/- 3 mg/dl (4.2 +/- 0.2 to 5.30.2 mmol/liter; P < 0.0001), and the area under the curve for glucose during oral glucose tolerance test increased from 421 +/- 34 to 503 +/- 31 mg/dl (23.4 +/- 1.9 to 27.9 +/- 1.7 mmol/liter; P < 0.001). Plasma insulin did not change either at fasting or during oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting plasma free fatty acids decreased from 0.596 +/- 0.048 to 0.445 +/- 0.058 mg/dl (P = 0.037), and ketone bodies decreased from 9.14 +/- 1.57 to 3.63 +/- 0.62 mg/dl (895 +/- 154 to 356 +/- 61 micromol/liter; P < 0.003). Plasma 15-deoxyprostaglandin J(2) tended to decrease (from 239 +/- 65 to 171 +/- 60 ng/ml; P = 0.053). Plasma testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, LH, FSH, and urinary estrogen conjugates did not change. Urinary pregnanediol 3-glucuronide increased from 18.6 +/- 2.2 to 31.0 +/- 5.7 micro g/mg creatinine (P = 0.038). In conclusion, increased dietary PUFA intake can exert significant metabolic and endocrine effects in women with PCOS.

Differential effects of walnuts vs almonds on improving metabolic and endocrine parameters in PCOS

“…Previously we have shown that walnuts increased plasma glucose without changing insulin in PCOS (Kasim- Karakas et al, 2004). However, weight has decreased in this study.…”

“…Although 46 g almonds or 36 g walnuts each contain 31 g oil, their compositions differ: 31 g of almond-oil delivers 2.4 g saturated fat, 19.5 g MUFA, 7.5 g linoleic acid (LA; 18:2 n-6) and no a-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 n-3; Abbate et al, 1996) whereas 31 g walnutoil delivers 2.9 g saturated fat, 4.5 g MUFA, 19.2 g LA and 4.3 g ALA. The fat exchange was accomplished as described previously (Kasim- Karakas et al, 2004). Amount of nut intake was based on average daily energy intake, which was assessed using 7-day food records (Food Processor SQL software; ESHA Research, Salem, OR, USA).…”

Ultra-structural Study by Transmission Electron Microscopy: Effect of Omega-3 on Ovary Cell Organelles after Experimental Induced Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome

“…Omega-3 may increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), but it may decrease the triglyceride levels. In the women with PCOS, omega-3 can modify the adiponectin (a soluble matrix protein) level, insulin resistance, and lipid profiles (33,34,35).…”

Insulin and hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…For example, in male rats saturated fatty acids were more prone to accumulate in cells and to increase androgen levels than polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and to a lesser extent than MUFA [86]. Accordingly, a prospective study found that after a 3-month habitual diet, partly replacing fat by PUFAs for another 3 months improved glucose homeostasis, plasma lipids and sex steroids in women with PCOS [130]. A cross-over study comparing eucaloric diets either enriched with MUFA or low in carbohydrates (CHO), evidenced that both interventions lowered fasting insulin levels and circulating triglycerides, but the acute insulin response to glucose was lower following the low CHO diet relative to the MUFA diet [131].…”