title: Favourable metabolic effects of a eucaloric lower-carbohydrate diet in women with PCOS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diet-induced reduction in circulating insulin may be an attractive nonpharmacological treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among whom elevated insulin may exacerbate symptoms by stimulating testosterone synthesis. This study was designed to determine whether a modest reduction in dietary carbohydrate (CHO) content affects β-cell responsiveness, serum testosterone concentration and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a crossover design, two diets ('Standard,' STD, 55:18:27% energy from carbohydrate/protein/fat; lower-carbohydrate, 41:19:40) were provided for 8 weeks in random order with a 4-week washout between.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  β-cell responsiveness assessed as the C-peptide response to glucose during a liquid meal test; insulin sensitivity from insulin and glucose values throughout the test; insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and total testosterone by immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paired t-test indicated that the lower-CHO diet induced significant decreases in basal β-cell response (PhiB), fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, total testosterone and all cholesterol measures, and significant increases in insulin sensitivity and dynamic ('first-phase') β-cell response. The STD diet induced a decrease in HDL-C and an increase in the total cholesterol-to-HDL-C ratio. Across all data combined, the change in testosterone was positively associated with the changes in fasting insulin, PhiB and insulin AUC (P < 0·05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In women with PCOS, modest reduction in dietary CHO in the context of a weight-maintaining diet has numerous beneficial effects on the metabolic profile that may lead to a decrease in circulating testosterone.
authors: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1675 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. bgower@uab.edu
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Gower
authors: Paula C
authors: PC
authors: Chandler-Laney
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Ovalle
authors: Laura Lee
authors: LL
authors: Goree
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Azziz
authors: Renee A
authors: RA
authors: Desmond
authors: Wesley M
authors: WM
authors: Granger
authors: Amy M
authors: AM
authors: Goss
authors: G Wright
authors: GW
authors: Bates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D013739:Testosterone