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Isocaloric diet is as effective as the hypocaloric diet in ameliorating symptoms in PCOS patients

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International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

There is no randomized study comparing the isocaloric (ICHD) and hypocaloric diet (HCD) in PCOS subjects.

Objective

To compare ICHD and HCD in weight-matched PCOS subjects.

Methods

PCOS subjects were randomized to receive either a HCD or ICHD. Clinical, biochemical, hormonal and dietary assessments were performed at baseline, 3 months and at one year.

Results

There were 168 PCOS subjects randomized to receive either ICHD (n = 84) or HCD (n = 84). We observed that while the hypocaloric diet was more effective in reducing weight, both the diets were effective in improving clinical symptoms. Around 50% patients showed improvement in clinical symptoms at 3 months and 30% were on diet alone therapy at one year in both the groups. The effect on hirsuitism was modest by both the diets at one year. The effectiveness of both the diets was similar with both the per protocol and the Intention to treat analysis; nevertheless, there was a greater loss to follow-up in patients on ICHD with high baseline caloric intakes.

Conclusion

HCD and ICHD are equally effective in as many as 30% patients with mild symptoms over long term. Patients having higher caloric intakes at baseline should not be offered isocaloric diets.

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Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the help of Deepti Kaur for data entry and analysis. We acknowledge the help of Dr Shekhar and Dr YP Gupta for statistical analysis. We acknowledge the contribution of ICMR (IRIS ID no. 2013-0976) for sponsoring this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, ABVIMS, Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Bindu Kulshreshtha, Shubhi Pant, Bhawna Pahuja & Priyanka Singh

  2. Department of Biochemistry, ABVIMS, Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Neera Sharma & Lokesh Sharma

Authors
  1. Bindu Kulshreshtha
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  2. Neera Sharma
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  3. Shubhi Pant
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  4. Lokesh Sharma
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  6. Priyanka Singh
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Contributions

BK conceptualized the study, was involved in all stages, and wrote the manuscript. SP, BP, and PS were involved in data collection, statistical analysis, and literature review including manuscript preparation. NS and LS were involved in data collection, laboratory data, and manuscript preparation. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bindu Kulshreshtha.

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Ethics approval

This study was approved by the Insti-tutional Ethics Committee (IRIS ID no. 2013-0976). Consenting subjects and controls underwent a detailed history and physical examination including anthropometry.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Kulshreshtha, B., Sharma, N., Pant, S. et al. Isocaloric diet is as effective as the hypocaloric diet in ameliorating symptoms in PCOS patients. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-023-01256-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-023-01256-7

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