| Abstract | Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy disorder in reproductive age women. The symptoms of this disorder are the androgen excess seen with anovulation/oligoovulation or morphologically ovarian cysts. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of public health nutrition intervention designed to enhance healthy eating and lifestyle modification among PCOS patients attended the obstetrics and gynecology clinic at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre (AUB-MC) in Beirut, Lebanon.
A prospective hospital based public health nutrition intervention was proposed in which 76 women with PCOS were recruited in the pilot study and 588 women were recruited in the scale-up intervention divided between PCOS and non-PCOS. During the scale up phase non-PCOS women were recruited to study the effect of the nutritional counseling on them as a way to compare the outcome with PCOS women. Recruited population were divided into 8 groups; group A: overweight/obese PCOS patient’s intervention (received weight management program with nutritional guidelines). Group B: overweight/ obese PCOS controls (received the usual heath care by the gynecologist), Group C: lean PCOS controls (received the usual heath care by the gynecologist), Group D: lean PCOS intervention (received weight maintenance program with nutritional guidelines ), Group E: overweight/obese non-PCOS patient’s intervention (received weight management program with nutritional guidelines) ,Group F: overweight/ obese non-PCOS controls, Group G: lean non- PCOS intervention (received weight maintenance program with nutritional guidelines), Group H: lean non-PCOS controls.
Data were collected using a pre-validated questionnaire to capture sociodemographic variables, nutritional status, and physical activity, psychological and medical status. Blood analysis was carried out to determine biochemical indices. Assessment of study indicators were carried out at baseline, after 3 and 6 months from inception of intervention (pilot as well scale up). Patients in intervention groups attended a 6 month tailored nutrition counseling/education program (2 sessions per month), to enhance their understanding of their dietary intake and assist them with weight management, physical activity, healthy cooking, lifestyle, and food shopping.
Following a six months pilot study intervention results have shown that 7% weight loss was achieved in overweight/ obese intervention groups and weight maintenance in lean intervention groups( Group A,B,C and D). There was a significant reduction in waist (-4.2 cm (±5.6)) and hip circumference (-3.1cm (±3.5)) with P < 0.001. There was no significant biochemical markers change (fasting blood sugar, CRP, LDL-C,HDL-C,TG,total cholesterol, fasting insulin, total testosterone,Vit D), however there was an increase in physical activity (3.1 hours/week (±1.5)) , and decrease in anxiety and depression score ( BDI-II and BAD-7); -0.8 (±0.8) and -0.7 (±0.7) with P<0,001 compared to interventions.
Following six months scale up intervention, the results have shown a weight reduction among overweight/obese PCOS women (group A) who lost, on average, 8.2 kg (P=0.001). Whilst non-PCOS women lost, on average 11.6 kg (P<0.001)(Group E). Controls gained weight ( Group B, D F and H).
The biochemical, psychological and reproductive profile showed significant improvements among PCOS women (P<0.001). Pregnancy rate increased to 70% among women trying to conceive.
The results of this study have shown this intervention to be effective in Lebanese women with PCOS, decreasing their initial body weight by 5%- 10% and improving
their reproductive, metabolic and endocrine profiles. This suggests the need for a nutritional intervention (nutritional guidelines) for women diagnosed with PCOS patients as a first line treatment. The study results support the effectiveness of lifestyle modification diet for PCOS women. |
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