Effect of a low glycemic diet in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and anovulation - a randomized controlled trial

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2016;43(4):555-559.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether a low glycemic index diet is better than a normal glycemic index diet in producing ovulatory cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anovulation.

Materials and methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial involving 37 women with PCOS and anovulation. The authors randomly assigned low glycemic index diets (n = 19) and normal glycemic index (n = 18) diets, and analyzed the number of ovulatory cycles for three months.

Results: In patients who consumed a low glycemic index diet, 24.6% (14/57) of the cycles were ovulatory. In those who consumed a normal glycemic index diet, only 7.4% (4/54) of the cycles were ovulatory (p = 0.014).

Conclusions: The difference observed in the number of ovulatory cycles could be related to a decrease in the serum levels of circulating androgens, secondary to an improvement in insulin resistance.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Androgens / blood
  • Anovulation / diet therapy*
  • Anovulation / etiology
  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Glycemic Index
  • Glycemic Load
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / diet therapy*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Androgens