Hormonal
A 12-week ketogenic Mediterranean diet (KEMEPHY) significantly improves metabolic and hormonal markers in overweight women with PCOS, including reductions in body weight, fat mass, insulin resistance, and androgens, alongside improvements in lipid profiles and sex hormone binding globulin.
For overweight women with PCOS, a 12-week ketogenic Mediterranean diet (approx. 1600-1700 kcal, <30g carbs) significantly reduces weight, fat mass, and insulin resistance while improving hormonal balance (lower testosterone, higher SHBG). This approach addresses the root hormonal drivers of PCOS more effectively than standard caloric restriction alone, though it requires strict adherence and medical supervision due to the small sample size of supporting evidence.
After 12 weeks, anthropometric and body composition measurements revealed a significant reduction of body weight (− 9.43 kg), BMI (− 3.35), FBM (8.29 kg) and VAT... A significant decrease in glucose and insulin blood levels were observed, together with a significant improvement of HOMA-IR... The LH/FSH ratio, LH total and free testosterone, and DHEAS blood levels were also significantly reduced. Estradiol, progesterone and SHBG increased.
Why this rating
Single-arm, small sample size (n=14), retrospective registration, no control group limits causal inference regarding the specific macronutrient effect vs caloric restriction.
Source
Effects of a ketogenic diet in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Antonio Paoli et al. · Journal of Translational Medicine · 2020
DOI 10.1186/s12967-020-02277-0
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