The Comparison of the DASH, Hypocaloric, Mediterranean/Low Glycemic Diet/Low Carbohydrate, as a Nutritional Intervention in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Overweight Women: A Systematic Review

Abstract

There is substantial evidence supporting individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) benefit from lifestyle changes through a nutrition intervention that improves small to moderate weight loss, restore ovulation, improve menstrual regularity, along with clinical (anthropometrics) and biochemical features (glucose tolerance, insulin, menstrual cycle, testosterone levels, free androgen index (FAI), and sex hormone binding globin). The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate individuals with PCOS and their body responses to different diets following a DASH, Mediterranean/Low-glycemic diet/low carbohydrate diet, and hypocaloric, diet in the improvement of clinical (anthropometrics) and biochemical (glucose tolerance, insulin, menstrual cycle, testosterone levels, free androgen index [FAI], and sex hormone binding globin) features. The literature was analyzed in different diet groups supporting nutrition intervention for PCOS in overweight/obese women in term of finding in clinical (anthropometrics- body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, and weight loss) and biochemical features (glucose tolerance, insulin, menstrual cycle, testosterone levels, FAI, and sex hormone binding globin), which will provide evidence to determine the best nutrition intervention for PCOS. This systematic review highlighted significant improvements in BMI, insulin resistance, menstrual irregularity and decrease testosterone levels in PCOS patients when following different diets (DASH, hypocaloric, Mediterranean/low-glycemic diet/low carbohydrate diet) when they are being compared among each other. Each diet supported different improvements in anthropometrics or biochemical biomarkers.