Comparing the Efficacy of Two Hypocaleric Diets on Weight Loss and Lipid Profile of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is usually accompanied by cardiovascular disease risk factors in women especially obese subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of two hypocaloric diets on weight loss and improvements of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

For this randomized clinical trial, weight reduction was attempted among sixty overweight and obese PCOS women who did not use any medication. They were randomly assigned into two groups; "conventional group" receiving 15% protein and 55% carbohydrate and "modified group" receiving 30% protein and 40% reduced glycemic load carbohydrates. They consumed hypocaloric diet for 12 weeks. In weeks 0 and 12, anthropometric data, 24-hour dietary recall for 3 days and fasting blood sample for measuring lipid profile, adiponectin and pro-inflammatory factors were obtained.

Subjects were aged 28.9±5.9 years old. There was no significant difference in percentages of weight loss between two groups. Reduction of total body fat in "modified group" was slightly higher, however, the difference did not reach a statistically significant level. Levels of LDL-C, TNF-α and IL-6 reduced and adiponectin increased significantly. CRP was significantly reduced in modified group.

Weight loss was associated with reduction in LDL-C level and improvement of cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, its effect is independent of the diet composition.