The effectiveness and safety of the Ketogenic Diet on overweight and obese women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on anthropometric, endocrine and metabolic parameters: A Systematic Review
Date
2023-12-01
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Publisher
Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine
disorder that affects reproductive-aged women. This condition is frequently
associated with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. The ketogenic diet
(KD), a high-fat, low-carbohydrate dietary approach, has gained interest for its
potential effects, not only in the treatment of obesity but also in related metabolic
disorders.
Objective: The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of KD
on body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BW), as well as endocrine parameters
including menstrual cycle, testosterone (TST), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, and metabolic parameters such as triglycerides,
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,
and the safety of KD in women with PCOS.
Methodology: A systematic search of four databases Embase (Ovid), NUsearch,
ScienceDirect and PubMed for full-text publications published in English between
2005 and 2023 was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Randomised controlled trials and cohort
studies that investigated the effects of KD on women with PCOS aged 18–45 with a
BMI > 25 were eligible.
Result: Seven trials were identified and evaluated. All studies showed significant
BMI and BW (the mean weight loss was -13.02%) reductions with the KD. Among
the analysed studies, four reported favourable outcomes in terms of ameliorating
menstrual cycle regularity through KD utilisation. Changes in TST were significant in
three investigations, while three others revealed no such effect. Three studies
reported significant changes in LH, FSH, and LH/FSH ratios, while one study found
none. Changes in TG, LDL, and HDL were observed in two trials, only one study
reported a change in TG. No significant metabolic parameters were found in two
studies. All three trials concluded that the KD was safe for obese women with PCOS.
Conclusion: Women with PCOS who are classified as overweight or obese had a
change in both BW and BMI, subsequently, improving the menstrual cycle, as well
as the TST, LH, FSH, and LH/FSH ratio and metabolic markers showed potential
improvements with no reported adverse effects.
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Keywords
Keywords: PCOS, ketogenic diet, obesity, anthropometric, endocrine, and metabolic parameters