Association between Coffee Consumption and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Exploratory Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Reproductive Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-15% of women globally, being a primary cause of infertility.
• Understanding lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits, is crucial for PCOS management and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between coffee consumption and the diagnosis of PCOS in women residing in Murcia, Spain.
• To determine if varying levels of coffee intake correlate with PCOS prevalence.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 121 women diagnosed with PCOS and 155 controls.
• PCOS diagnosis confirmed using the Rotterdam criteria (hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovarian morphology).
• Coffee intake assessed via a validated food frequency questionnaire; data analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse linear trend was observed: increased coffee consumption correlated with a reduced probability of PCOS (p-trend = 0.034).
• Women with PCOS were less likely to consume one cup of coffee daily compared to non-coffee drinkers (OR = 0.313, 95% CI: 0.141-0.69).

Conclusions:

• Consuming at least one cup of coffee per day may be linked to a decrease in PCOS symptoms.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the protective role of coffee in PCOS etiology and management.