Effects of Hypo-caloric Ddiet and Dietary Composition on Reproductive and Metabolic Disorders in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review of Studies

Alteration in dietary composition can be effective in reducing obesity that plays a pivotal role in exacerbating reproductive and metabolic disturbances of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The current review was conducted to investigate the effects of hypo-caloric diet and diet with different compositions on reproductive and metabolic disorders in women with PCOS.

PubMed, Science Direct and Google scholar were searched for studies published between 2003 and 2014. “Diet”, “Protein”, “Carbohydrate”, “Lifestyle”, “Weight” and “Glycemic Index” in combination with “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” were used as search terms. Clinical trials with high quality and review articles were collected.

A weight reduction by 5% to 10% of initial body weight through long-term restriction in calorie intake can improve reproductive and metabolic disturbances in PCOS women. There is no evidence supporting that adherence to low calorie, high protein diet has an additional beneficial effect versus low calorie diet with standard protein. Diet with low glycemic index (GI) or low glycemic load (GL) may improve reproductive and metabolic disturbances, independent of calorie intake.

Restriction of energy intake, independent of the composition of the diet can lead to improvement in reproductive and metabolic disturbances of PCOS. The optimal composition of diet to improve the reproductive and metabolic disturbances of PCOS remains to be elucidated though low GI or GL diets might be effective.