Effect of hypocaloric high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet supplemented with fennel on androgenic and anthropometric indices in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hypocaloric high-protein, low-carbohydrate weight loss diet supplemented with fennel on anthropometric and androgen indices in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a factorial design was performed on sixty-four overweight/obese women with PCOS. Participants were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 16 per group) as follows: 1) hypocaloric standardize diet + fennel (2 capsule/day) (HSDF), 2) hypocaloric high-protein diet + fennel (2 capsule/day) (HHPF), 3) hypocaloric standardize diet + placebo (HSDP), and 4) hypocaloric high-protein diet + placebo (HHPP).

Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 28.54 (6.80) years and body mass index was 32.24 (4.65) kg/m². At the end of intervention, protein intake was 20.43 % in the groups that received a high-protein diet versus 16.37 % in the standard diet groups (P < 0.001). Combination of hypocaloric high-protein diet and fennel capsule did not significantly affect change in outcomes compared with groups not receiving them. There was a significant interaction between hypocaloric high-protein diet and fennel on weight (P = 0.019).

Conclusion: A hypocaloric high-protein diet along with fennel supplementation could not provide additional improvements in anthropometric and androgen indices among PCOS women. Further studies are required to more precisely elucidate these findings.

Keywords: Androgens; Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare); Hypocaloric high-protein diet; Hypocaloric standard diet; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Weight.