The Relationship between Macronutrient Intake and Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is linked to genetic and environmental factors such as nutrition. Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the major pathological changes in PCOS. This study aimed to determine the relationship between IR and macronutrient intake in PCOS subgroups.

This case-control study was performed on 151 women with PCOS and were divided into four groups according to the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria: A=41, B=33, C=40, and D=37, and 31 women were also in the control group and did not have this syndrome. All macronutrients were assessed with a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

There was a significant relationship between HOMA-IR and some dietary components
 (Increased calorie in group A, increased total fat intake in group C, lower intake of unsaturated fats (PUFA and MUFA) in group D and higher intake of saturated fat (SFA) and protein intake in the control group). There was no correlation in subgroup B (ovulatory phenotype).

Due to the significant relationship between IR and some dietary components in PCOS subtypes, it is recommended to maintain a balance in carbohydrate and fatty acids intake, and increase dietary fiber to improve health parameters in PCOS subjects.