title: The impact of eating behavior on psychological symptoms typical of reactive hypoglycemia. A pilot study comparing women with polycystic ovary syndrome to controls.
abstract: The idea that diet can affect mood and behavior in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by altering blood glucose levels has become popular in recent years. This paper describes an online survey (N=462) of 24 women with PCOS, 299 healthy control women, 47 women who possibly had undiagnosed PCOS, and 92 men. The groups were compared for symptoms of mood and behavioral symptoms typical of reactive (postprandial) hypoglycemia. The outcome measures were two questionnaires that measure states associated with hypoglycemia: the Hypoglycemia Symptom Checklist-7 (HSC-7), which measures behavioral symptoms and the Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), which measures emotional states. Controlling for age and body mass index (BMI) using between-groups analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the women with PCOS scored significantly higher than the other three groups (p<0.001) on the outcome measures. These differences remained statistically significant in a subset of twelve women with PCOS compared to twelve healthy control women closely matched for age, BMI, and eating behavior. The findings are suggestive of hypoglycemia-related mood and behavioral problems in PCOS. Future research should test whether blood glucose levels correlate with these symptoms in PCOS, and whether a low glycemic index ('low-GI') diet improves the symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK. j.a.barry@city.ac.uk
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouloux
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hardiman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose