Endocrine Abstracts

The study aimed to investigate diet patterns and its association with metabolic features in patients with PCOS.

Material and methods: 116 women with PCOS (according to Rotterdam criteria) were investigated in Vilnius city (Lithuania) in 2009–2011. Information about nutrition habits was collected utilizing qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Participants were tested for total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, fasting glucose, insulin and lipid profile. 2-hours oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Insulin resistance HOMA-IR index were calculated. Body weight and height were measured.

Results: Mean patients’ age was 27.16±3.87 years. 57.0% of women had enough knowledge about healthy diet. Mean number of daily meals was 3.31±0.88. 42.2% of women declared that always have breakfast, 67.2% always have lunch and 41.4% dinner. BMI (25.88±6.15 vs. 28.64±7.42 kg/m², P=0.04), insulin (9.95±6.13 vs. 14.49±12.18 μU/ml, P=0.01), HOMA-IR (2.29±1.63 vs. 3.52±3.30, P=0.01), triglycerides (1.00±0.44 vs. 1.26±0.73 mmol/l, P=0.02) were lower and HDL-cholesterol (1.61±0.36 vs. 1.43±0.41 mmol/l, P=0.02) was higher in women who always have had breakfast comparing to those who ate breakfast irregularly or never. Obese PCOS women more frequently had dinner comparing with normal weight PCOS. 30.8% of PCOS women ate whole grain bread every day. They had lower glucose after 75 g glucose load by 0.76 mmol/l (5.10±1.52 vs. 5.86±1.61 mmol/l, P=0.03) and higher HDL-cholesterol by 0.17 mmol/l (1.63±0.42 vs. 1.46±0.39 mmol/l, P=0.04) comparing to those who ate whole grain bread occasionally. 41.4% of women ate meat daily, their triglycerides were higher by 0.38 mmol/l (1.37±0.79 vs. 0.99±0.47 mmol/l, P=0.002) comparing to those who did not eat meat every day.

Conclusion: Having regular breakfast, eating whole grain bread, limiting frequency of having meat are associated with better metabolic profile in patients with PCOS.