Impact of short‐term ketogenic diet on sex hormones and glucose‐lipid metabolism in overweight or obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

AimThis study evaluates the clinical effects of a ketogenic diet (KD) versus a traditional comprehensive intervention, including lifestyle changes and oral contraceptives, in overweight or obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 70 overweight/obese PCOS patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥24 kg/m2) treated between December 2022 and December 2023 was conducted. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their past treatment modality: Group 1 received a KD treatment (N = 35), and Group 2 underwent comprehensive intervention (N = 35), with both treatments lasting 3 months. Changes in body weight, BMI, sex hormone levels, glucose‐lipid metabolism indicators, and liver and kidney function were compared.ResultsBoth groups experienced significant reductions in body weight and BMI after treatment (p < 0.05), with the KD group showing a greater reduction (p < 0.05). luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), and total testosterone (TT) levels decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05). The KD treatment led to significant reductions in fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.05), while the comprehensive intervention resulted in decreased FBG and ALT, and increased high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐c) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the KD group had a greater reduction in FBG, and showed decreases in TG and AST, which remained unchanged in the comprehensive intervention group (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe short‐term KD treatment provides significant weight loss and effectively improves hormone regulation and glucose‐lipid metabolism in overweight or obese PCOS patients, offering a valuable therapeutic option for managing the condition.