PCOS Review Newsletter #10
Natural Health Ideas for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
A free monthly newsletter for women with ovarian cysts or PCOS.
Issue #010 December 11, 2003
Bill Slater, Research Associate
1) Role of Diet in PCOS Women: Americans vs. Italians
2) Which Weight Loss Diet Works Best?
1) Role of Diet in PCOS Women: Americans vs. Italians
A study was published in November comparing the influence of diet on 343 American and 301 Italian women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome. The Americans had worse insulin resistance and higher triglyceride levels, suggesting a higher future diabetes risk. The Americans also had a significantly higher body mass index, indicating that they were more overweight than the Italians.
The total caloric intake of the two groups was nearly the same. The dietary content of protein, carbohydrates and fats was also similar. The only significant dietary difference was that American women consumed a higher level of saturated fats.
What's interesting about this study is that the calories and dietary components of the two PCOS groups was generally similar.
What, then, could account for the Americans being heavier and having more insulin resistance? The researchers did not answer this question, but suggested that genetics and lifestyle factors could play a role.
If you have a weight problem, we recommend that you reduce your saturated fat intake and increase your exercise.
Source: Carmina, E, et al, Difference in body weight between
American and Italian women with polycystic ovary syndrome:
influence of the diet, Hum Reprod, 2003, 18(11):2289-2293
2) Which Weight Loss Diet Works Best?
No matter what diet you're on, if you eat less and lose weight, you also lower your risk of heart disease, doctors told a conference of the American Heart Association in November.
According to the research that was presented, Weight Watchers, the high-fat Atkins diet, the extremely low-fat Ornish diet and the high-protein, moderate carbohydrate Zone diet all help people lose weight and all reduce cholesterol, but in different ways.
And, as might be expected, the closer dieters followed the plans, the more weight they lost. Those who stuck it out for a full year lost, on average, 5% of their body weight -- or about 10 to 12 pounds.
While the dieters reduced heart disease risk factors such as cholesterol levels, overall blood pressure did not drop much and the study did not last long enough to see if this translated into a lower long-term risk of heart disease. (By the way, women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing heart disease).
The study chose 160 overweight people and randomly assigned 40 to each of four different diets. They weight an average 220 pounds and needed to lose between 30 and 80 pounds.
All agreed to follow the diets to the best of their ability for two months, although none were enrolled in the full programs that Weight Watchers and Dr. Dean Ornish advocate. They include exercise, group meetings and food diaries for Weight Watchers and stress reduction for the Ornish diet.
After two months, 22% of the dieters had given up. After a year, 35% dropped out of Weight Watchers and the Zone diets and 50% had quit the Atkins and Ornish plans.
The study suggested there is no one-size-fits-all diet best for everyone.
We recommend that you include adequate, high-quality protein at each meal (including frequent fish), low-glycemic carbohydrates (mostly vegetables and some fruit), limited grains, and seeds and nuts in moderation. Avoid or minimize processed foods. Avoid saturated fats (butter, red meat fat) and any food product contain trans-fats or partially hydrogenated fats (look at the label).
Source: Reuters Health News, November 10, 2003.
3) PCOS Symptoms & Fertility
Infertility is a primary concern for many women with PCOS. However, a recent study has shown that even if you have polycystic ovaries as shown by ultrasound, you may be as fertile as other women.
Researchers at Tufts University identified 210 women as having polycystic ovaries, based on an ultrasound exam. One-third of these women were free of the typical symptoms of PCOS. The non-symptomatic women had a mean time-to-pregnancy similar to that of women with normal ovaries who were included in the study for comparison purposes. In other words, the asymptomatic polycystic women were no less fertile than women with normal ovaries.
The women who did have symptoms of PCOS were less fertile than the asymptomatic and normal groups.
If you have an ultrasound exam and ovarian cysts are discovered, it does not necessarily mean that you are less fertile, IF you don't have the typical symptoms of PCOS. This study suggests that if you can reduce your symptoms, you may become more fertile in spite of having polycystic ovaries.
You can see a list of PCOS symptoms at: PCOS Symptoms
Source: Hassan, M et al, Ultrasound diagnosis of polycystic
ovaries in women who have no symptoms of polycystic ovary
syndrome is not associated with subfecundity or subfertility,
Fertility and Sterility, 2003, 80(4):966-975
4) PCOS Supplements
We've posted information on two supplements that are applicable to polycystic ovary syndrome:
5) Insulin Resistance
We've added a web page on Insulin Resistance, which is thought to be a primary cause of PCOS in many women.
6) PCOS Success Stories
No matter how hard you try, or what you do, it may seem that you can't make the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome go away. Or, perhaps you control your symptoms to some extent with drugs, but feel uncomfortable with the idea of being reliant on drugs for years to come.
It's important to realize that other women with problems like yours have successfully turned to natural methods of controlling their symptoms. You can see our first success story at:
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