Management of PCOS patients through dietary interventions and calorie restriction: a systematic review

Background: Nowadays, dietary interventions which include calorie restriction become a primary strategy for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to induce weight loss and improve clinical symptoms. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the impact of dietary interventions with calorie restriction in PCOS women. Methods: A comprehensive research was conducted by using Pubmed and Google Sholar to find observational or randomised controlled trials conducted on subjects with PCOS that assess the effect of dietary intervention on circulating inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α), androgens (testosterone, androstenedione), SHBG, and luteinising hormone (LH) in PCOS women. Results:24 articles were collected and analyzed. Among women with PCOS and obesity, compared to the control group, individuals who underwent dietary interventions experienced improvements in weight‐related Indicators, glycolipid metabolism, hormone‐related indicators, and fertility‐related outcomes. Subgroup analysis indicated that calorie‐restricted diets (CRDs) and low‐energy–low‐carb combined diets had advantages over other dietary interventions. Moreover, the overweight period was the optimal intervention period. Conclusions:Dietary interventions with calorie restriction can improve the clinical manifestations of PCOS in patients with obesity or overweight. Particularly, Ketogenic Diet (KD), Very-Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet (DASH) are recommended.