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Could the Mediterranean diet be effective in women with polycystic ovary syndrome? A proof of concept

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, page 974 (2015)Cite this article

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We recently published in Nature Reviews in Endocrinology1 a critical commentary on the clinical practice guidelines of the Endocrine Society on the diagnosis and management of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),2 a very common and heterogeneous condition characterized by clinical and/or biochemical androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovaries at ultrasound.3

That new guidelines2 strongly recommended that overweight/obese women with PCOS should lose weight changing their lifestyle, and, specifically, that should be used calorie-restricted diets, as pivotal component of the lifestyle change programs. Not withstanding this recommendation, at the moment there are still unsatisfied data regarding the strategy that should be suggested to reach the healthy weight, and the best calorie-restricted dietetic regimen is still matter of debate.4 In fact, no scientific evidence derived from well-designed clinical trial is available regarding the best dietary program to suggest in obese women with PCOS. In addition, although insulin resistance is a crucial pathogenetic factor for PCOS5 and lifestyle change program improves insulin resistance,6 no available data can also suggest whether nonobese women with PCOS benefit or did not from lifestyle change program including diet without calorie restriction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Science and Wellness, “Parthenope” University Naples, and Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fertility Techniques Structure, University Hospital “S. Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona”, Largo Città d’Ippocrate, Salerno, Italy

    F Orio

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Endocrinology, University “Federico II”, Naples and Rionero in Vulture, Potenza, Italy

    G Muscogiuri

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova of Reggio Emilia, IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    S Palomba

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  1. F Orio
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  2. G Muscogiuri
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  3. S Palomba
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Correspondence to F Orio.

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Orio, F., Muscogiuri, G. & Palomba, S. Could the Mediterranean diet be effective in women with polycystic ovary syndrome? A proof of concept. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 974 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.53

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