Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age whose lifestyle approach is an essential part of the treatment. Recently chronotype, i.e. a trait that determines individual’s circadian preference in behavioral and biological rhythms, has been reported to play a role in determining nutrition preferences and the risk of developing chronic diseases. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate if chronotype categories (morning, evening and neither) could be used as tool to screen eating habits in PCOS in order to drive the most appropriate nutritional approach.

Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, we assessed anthropometric parameters, lifestyle habits, chronotype categories, adherence to MD, dietary pattern, and metabolic parameters in 112 women with PCOS.

Results: Chronotype was classified as morning in 27.7%, evening in 42.9% and neither in 29.5% of subjects. Women with PCOS with evening chronotype showed significantly higher percentages of grade I (P=0.003) and grade II obesity (P=0.001), did less regular exercise (P<0.001) and most of them were smokers (P<0.001) compared to those with neither and morning chronotype. In women with PCOS with evening chronotype there was a significantly higher prevalence of subjects with HoMA-IR cut off>2.5 than neither and morning chronotype (P<0.001). Women with PCOS with evening chronotype had the lowest PREDIMED score, consumed more calories (P<0.001), total (P<0.001) and simple carbohydrates (P<0.001), total fat (P<0.001) and SFA (P<0.001), PUFA (P<0.001) and n-6 PUFA (P<0.001) and less fiber (P<0.001) than women with PCOS with other chronotype categories. In addition, women with PCOS with evening chronotype consumed less EVOO (P=0.001), legumes (P=0.038), fish/seafood (P<0.001) and tree nuts (P=0.041) than women with PCOS with other two chronotype categories and less red wine (P<0.001) and more red/processed meat (P<0.001) than women with PCOS with morning chronotype.

Conclsion: In women with PCOS evening chronotype has been associated with a most severe IR and unhealthiest eating habits. Thus, chronotype assessment could be effective tool to screen the eating habits, and more generally the lifestyle, of women with PCOS.