Study: Ketogenic Diet as Medical Prescription in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Image Credit: Nina Firsova / Shutterstock.com
Reproductive function is vital to human survival and well-being. Thus, the incidence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women, often associated with infertility, has received considerable attention among researchers.
A recent study published in the journal Current Nutrition Reports explores the role of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of PCOS.
Introduction
PCOS is an endocrine condition that affects the ovaries, often leading to various combinations of elevated androgen levels with/or oligo-ovulation or polycystic ovaries. As a result, about four in ten affected women are infertile.
PCOS is also linked to multiple metabolic disorders, including glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinism, insulin resistance, hypertension, and fatty liver. In addition, an earlier report suggested a link between PCOS and excessive dietary carbohydrate intake, leading to insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. Obesity is also more prevalent among women with PCOS.
These factors have led many types of diets to be studied for their effect on PCOS, with this research often focused on how the reduced consumption of refined carbohydrates and saturated or trans fats in the diet may be beneficial.
A variation of the Mediterranean diet known as the ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts (KEMEPHY), as well as the low glycemic index (GI) diet and low saturated fat diet, are some of the different interventions that have been tested for their efficacy in PCOS management.
In particular, the very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) has garnered support among weight loss enthusiasts and the scientific community due to its purported effectiveness in reducing body fat and alleviating metabolic dysfunction such as glucose intolerance and dyslipidemias.
In the VLCKD, fats provide 90% of calories, with carbohydrates and proteins providing the remaining 10%. This diet is adopted in three stages, beginning with the active stage, followed by the re-education and maintenance phases. The VLCKD has been shown to support rapid weight loss while maintaining lean mass, thus preserving glucose metabolism throughout the process.
The current study reviews available evidence in favor of the VLCKD in treating PCOS.
What did the study show?
Research shows that body composition and carbohydrate metabolism are involved in PCOS. These alterations are exacerbated by obesity and subsequently lead to dyslipidemia and dysregulated carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, with a specific signature recognizable as that of PCOS.
As a result, PCOS is often associated with obesity, low-grade inflammation, along with insulin resistance, and the resulting hyperinsulinemia.
The current review establishes that weight loss alone is inadequate to improve reproductive function. Therefore, along with reducing the intake of fatty acids and high GI foods, there should be an increase in the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vitamin D, and chromium-rich foods.
Important dietary interventions Related Stories
The Mediterranean diet shows preliminary effectiveness in managing PCOS by reducing inflammation, insulin resistance, and androgen levels.
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