Dietary intake, body composition and metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Overweight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients present exacerbation of clinical symptoms and increased risk for chronic diseases. The effects of inadequate dietary intake have been investigated in body weight gain in PCOS women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary pattern and to analyze possible associations with the metabolism and body composition in PCOS women.

A case-control study was performed with thirty-nine women diagnosed with PCOS and thirty-five control women, matched by age and body mass index. A body composition assessment was performed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and food intake was assessed using the seven-day food record. The metabolic parameters evaluated were fasting glucose, insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment-estimated Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

No significant differences were observed in dietary intake of women with or without PCOS. In the analysis of the associations between dietary intake, metabolic parameters and body composition, PCOS women showed an inverse correlation between dietetic fiber intake and HOMA-IR index (r = -0.365; p = 0.024). Also in PCOS group, dietary fiber intake presented an inverse correlation with total body fat (r = -0.401; p = 0.011), trunk fat (r = -0.388; p = 0.015), and android fat (r = -0.431; p = 0.006). PCOS women group had higher glucose 120', compared to those without PCOS (p = 0.015).

These results provide evidence that the adequate intake of dietary fiber contributes to more appropriate body composition and glucose metabolism in PCOS women and possibly toward the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases.